Elderly

Question 1

What is silver trauma?

Answer 1

Major trauma in over 65’s

Usually falls

Question 2

A-E considerations for elderly

Answer 2

C-spine - Canadian c-spine riled don’t apply

A - false teeth?

B - rib fractures, raised RR, flail segment

C - hidden shock, anticoag’s?, fall or collapse?

D - agitation, low GCS, low threshold, suspect a bleed

E - hypothermia, abdo (splenic, aortic, liver, bowel injury?)

Question 3

What are fragility fractures?

Answer 3

Fractures that result from the mechanical forces that would not originally result in fracture, known as low-level trauma.

WHO has quantified this as forced equivalent to a fall from standing height or less

Question 4

What are the common causes of syncope?

Answer 4

Neurally mediated - vasovagal, situational, carotid sinus

Cardiovascular - arrhythmia, structural heart disease

Orthostatic hypotension - autonomic failure, drug induced, dehydration