Impact of geriatric consultations on clinical outcomes of elderly trauma patients: A retrospective analysis.

Introduction: The elderly account for a large proportion of morbidity and mortality secondary to trauma, despite lower-energy mechanisms of injury and fewer trauma admissions. The benefit of geriatric trauma consultation services (GTCS) to this population remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of a GTCS, which was established in January 2015. Patients over 60 admitted to the trauma service from January of 2014 to February 2016 were eligible.

Results: There were no significant differences in 30-day and in-hospital mortalities, mean ICU and total lengths of stay, or complication rates. However, if a single complication was experienced, post-GTCS patients were nearly three times more likely to experience multiple complications. More patients in the GTCS group were discharged home, but were readmitted four times more often.

Conclusions: A mandatory GTCS was not associated with improved patient outcomes, suggesting that management exclusively by the trauma team is at least equally effective in treatment of geriatric trauma.