Geriatric trauma care: What you need to know

Older adult patients suffer adverse outcomes after trauma, compared with younger adults. Contributing factors to these suboptimal outcomes include diminished physiologic reserve, preinjury comorbidities, and the presence of geriatric-specific syndromes. Addressing these factors in a proactive manner improves the clinical outlook after geriatric trauma. The goals of geriatric trauma care include timely activation of the trauma team; prompt and thoughtful initial resuscitation and treatment of acute injuries; detection and management of injuries and postinjury complications; evaluation and management of preinjury comorbidities; management of geriatric-specific syndromes; and enhancing functional recovery. There is increasing evidence that a multidisciplinary approach to the management of trauma in older adults improves outcomes. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026;101: 199-207.).