It is time for a change in the management of elderly severely injured patients! An analysis of 126,015 patients from the TraumaRegister DGU ®

Background The number of elderly patients among the severely injured has been increasing continuously. It has been suggested that an increased life expectancy and a higher level of activity and mobility in older ages could explain this observation. Elderly trauma patients have relevant higher mortality rates and poorer functional outcomes. The reasons remain unclear. The aim of this study was to look for differences in the management of severely injured elderly patients compared to younger age groups and to evaluate their potential impact on outcome.