Effect of older age on treatment decisions and outcomes among patients with traumatic spinal cord injury

This study investigates how older age (70 years or older) affects treatment decisions and outcomes for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries. Older patients are more likely to sustain injuries from falls, have cervical injuries, and less severe injuries on admission. They also tend to stay longer in acute care and have higher in-hospital mortality. The research suggests that chronological age influences treatment decisions, particularly regarding the timing of surgery, with older patients experiencing longer waits and higher mortality despite less severe injuries.

• 1
  Older patients (≥70 years) experienced significantly longer wait times from admission to surgery compared to younger patients (37 v. 19 h; p< 0.001).
• 2
  Older patients had a substantially higher in-hospital mortality rate (4.2% v. 0.6%; p < 0.001) despite having less severe injuries than younger patients.
• 3
  A sensitivity analysis indicated that an age threshold of 65 years, rather than 70, was significantly associated with a decreased chance of surgical treatment.