Splenic injury is one type of traumatic injury discussed by Dr Samra. The injury is sustained due to a ruptured spleen for example following motor vehicle collision. As Dr. Samra explains, older patients are prone to splenic injuries since the population has a fragile vasculature and frail capsule resulting from a decline in elastin fibers. Older patients are also vulnerable to splenic injuries because their spleens cannot retract and contract the damaged blood vessels located in the parenchyma ( Warnack et al., 2020) . Evidence based research indicates that older patients record increased fails in management of splenic injuries relative to younger patients ( Bonne & Schuerer, 2013) . Older patients are at a higher risk of sustaining splenic injuries since most geriatric patients have a weakened abdominal musculature. The individuals who have an advanced age experience falls, vomiting and cough, all which can lead to the rapture of a normal spleen. Due to the high likelihood of sustaining abdominal trauma, older patients are exposed to splenic raptures/injuries more than younger patients.
Burn injury is a second type of traumatic injury explained by Dr Samra. Burn is a type of injury inflicted on a person’s skin or other body tissues due to exposure to heat cold, chemicals etc. Burns sustained by older patients are mostly caused by heat from fire, hot liquids or solids. Literature review studies indicate that the incidence of burn injuries among older patients is exponentially increasing as the population age rises in myriad countries globally. As Dr. Samra conjectures, older adults are predisposed to burn injury due to their decreased co-ordination, limited mobility and slower reaction time. Additional factors that put older patients at high risk of sustaining burn injury include cognitive decline, sensory impairment and side effects of medication.
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References
Bonne, S., & Schuerer, D. J. (2013). Trauma in the older adult: epidemiology and evolving geriatric trauma principles. Clinics in geriatric medicine , 29 (1), 137-150.
YouTube (2017). Trauma Grand Rounds 11-10-17, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYY41Kh36Y&feature=youtu.be
Warnack, E., Bukur, M., Frangos, S., DiMaggio, C., Kozar, R., Klein, M., & Berry, C. (2020). Age is a predictor for mortality after blunt splenic injury. The American Journal of Surgery .
