Under-triage of Elderly Trauma Patients With Comorbid Conditions

Am Surg. 2022 Aug;88(8):1925-1927. doi: 10.1177/00031348221086819. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Abstract

This study aims at identifying the under-triage patients to improve the quality of care among those transferred into a level I trauma system. This is a single-center study of Trauma Registry data, inclusive years, from July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2021. Patients were grouped based upon under-triage, over-triage, and OK triage. The under-triage group was more likely to be older, partially activated, blunt, fall trauma patients with a higher GCS, higher ISS, and significant injuries found to the head/neck who experienced a longer length of stay at the referring facility and higher morbidity outcomes with diagnosed comorbidities of dementia and hypertension. There are distinct differences in under and over-triage groups within this trauma system, which gives insight into future education and outreach among interfacility transfers.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trauma Centers
  • Triage*
  • Wounds and Injuries* / diagnosis
  • Wounds and Injuries* / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries* / therapy