Aim: Geriatric people are more exposed to trauma due to physiopathological changes caused by aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics of geriatric patients admitted to the emergency clinic and their diagnosis and treatment processes. Material and Method: Our study was carried out at a 3th degree area hospital and evaluated 1450 geriatric trauma cases between May 2011-April 2012. The study data was collected and was obtained from patient charts and automation system. Patients who had mismatch between the patient cards and their automation information, and who did not accept the examination and treatment, were excluded. The patients were evaluated in terms of the demographic characteristics, months of exposure to trauma, body region to the affected trauma and the number of regions covered by trauma, type of trauma and hospitalized clinics. Results: Of the evaluated 1540 cases, 790 were male and 750 were female. The mean age was 73.9 in years. 1368 cases (88.8%) were local trauma patients and 172 cases were multiple trauma patients. The falls were the most common cause of trauma (82,3%). The extremities were the most affected body region. The soft tissue injury was the most commonly observed trauma in cases of local trauma, while the coexistence of the extremity and head and neck trauma was the most frequently observed trauma in cases of multiple trauma. Conclusion: Physiological and metabolic changes that occur with aging has decreased the people s ability to protect themselves from injury, so has increased the number of geriatric trauma. Therefore, each case has to be examined carefully and patient records must be kept meticulously to reveal the causes of trauma, and to take precautions against them

Aim: Geriatric people are more exposed to trauma due to physiopathological changes caused by aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics of geriatric patients admitted to the emergency clinic and their diagnosis and treatment processes. Material and Method: Our study was carried out at a 3th degree area hospital and evaluated 1450 geriatric trauma cases between May 2011-April 2012. The study data was collected and was obtained from patient charts and automation system. Patients who had mismatch between the patient cards and their automation information, and who did not accept the examination and treatment, were excluded. The patients were evaluated in terms of the demographic characteristics, months of exposure to trauma, body region to the affected trauma and the number of regions covered by trauma, type of trauma and hospitalized clinics. Results: Of the evaluated 1540 cases, 790 were male and 750 were female. The mean age was 73.9 in years. 1368 cases (88.8%) were local trauma patients and 172 cases were multiple trauma patients. The falls were the most common cause of trauma (82,3%). The extremities were the most affected body region. The soft tissue injury was the most commonly observed trauma in cases of local trauma, while the coexistence of the extremity and head and neck trauma was the most frequently observed trauma in cases of multiple trauma. Conclusion: Physiological and metabolic changes that occur with aging has decreased the people s ability to protect themselves from injury, so has increased the number of geriatric trauma. Therefore, each case has to be examined carefully and patient records must be kept meticulously to reveal the causes of trauma, and to take precautions against them