Direct transport of geriatric trauma patients with pelvic fractures to a Level I trauma center within an organized trauma system: impact on two-week incidence of in-hospital complications

Abstract

Background: Undertriage of elderly trauma patients to tertiary trauma centers is well documented. This study evaluated the impact of directness of transport to a Level I trauma center on morbidity in geriatric trauma patients sustaining severe pelvic fractures.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 87 geriatric trauma patients diagnosed with potentially unstable pelvic fractures, treated at a Level I trauma center between 2008 and 2010.

Results: Of the 87 patients, 39% (34 of 87) initially were transported to a nontertiary trauma center. After adjusting for presence of comorbidity and injury severity, the 2-week incidence of complications was 54% higher in transferred patients compared with those directly transported (rate ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, .95-2.54). In particular, transferred patients had increased odds of developing pneumonia/systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Conclusions: Despite lacking precision, results of this study suggest an increased risk of complications in transferred geriatric trauma patients with severe pelvic fractures compared with their directly transported counterparts.