Geriatric trauma care: What you need to know

ABSTRACT: 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.).