Geriatric trauma: A clinical and ethical review

Because of advances in medicine and other sciences, the average human life span is longer now than any other time in history. The physiologic effects of aging as well as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and other geriatric-specific syndromes create additional challenges when elderly patients experience a traumatic injury. However, there is a growing evidence base that can inform the clinical decision-making process. This narrative review of the literature addresses the state of the science regarding geriatric syndromes, guidelines and protocols, indices and models for prognostication, outcomes and ethical concerns in the treatment of geriatric trauma.