Trauma in the elderly patient.

Major Trauma Centres and Emergency Departments are treating an increasing number of elderly trauma patients in the UK. Elderly patients, defined as those over the age of 65 years, are more susceptible to injury from lesser mechanisms of trauma than younger adults. The number of elderly trauma cases is rising yearly, accounting for >25% of all major trauma nationally.

Clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of fracture non-union and bone defects.

Bone defects resulting from trauma or resorption, whether physiological or pathological, remain a major challenge in the management of patients. The limits of bone regeneration still result in many people never recovering fully their function and quality of life; with all the social, financial and psychological implications. The aim of this review is to present the current level of possible applications of stem cells and tissue engineering in bone repair.