Scientific Publications Database

Article Title: Comparison of functional outcomes in elderly who have sustained a minor trauma with or without head injury: a prospective multicenter cohort study
Authors: Brousseau, Audrey-Anne; Emond, Marcel; Sirois, Marie-Josee; Daoust, Raoul; Griffith, Lauren E.; Lang, Eddy; Lee, Jacques; Perry, Jeffrey J.; Ouellet, Marie-Christine; Verreault, Rene; Berthelot, Simon; Mercier, Eric; Allain-Boule, Nadine; Boucher, Valerie; Tardif, Pier-Alexandre; Le Sage, Natalie
Journal: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE Volume 19 Issue 5
Date of Publication:2017
Abstract:
Objectives: The consequences of minor trauma involving a head injury (MT-HI) in independent older adults are largely unknown. This study assessed the impact of a head injury on the functional outcomes six months post-injury in older adults who sustained a minor trauma.Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study in eight sites included patients who were aged 65 years or older, previously independent, presenting to the emergency department (ED) for a minor trauma, and discharged within 48 hours. To assess the functional decline, we used a validated test: the Older Americans' Resources and Services Scale. The cognitive function of study patients was also evaluated. Finally, we explored the influence of a concomitant injury on the functional decline in the MT-HI group.Results: All 926 eligible patients were included in the analyses: 344 MT-HI patients and 582 minor trauma without head injury. After six months, the functional decline was similar in both groups: 10.8% and 11.9%, respectively (RR = 0.79 [95% CI: 0.55-1.14]). The proportion of patients with mild cognitive disabilities was also similar: 21.7% and 22.8%, respectively (RR = 0.91 [95% CI: 0.71-1.18]). Furthermore, for the group of patients with a MT-HI, the functional outcome was not statistically different with or without the presence of a co-injury (RR = 1.35 [95% CI: 0.71-2.59]).Conclusion: This study did not demonstrate that the occurrence of a MT-HI is associated with a worse functional or cognitive prognosis than other minor injuries without a head injury in an elderly population, six months after injury.