Table 6. Comparison of demographics between elderly (65 y and above) and nonelderly patients with traumatic spine injuries.
| Demographic and outcome variables | Elderly (n = 289) | Nonelderly (n = 676) | Odds ratio; 95% CI | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean ( ± SD) | 78.6 ( ± 8.3) | 39.1 ( ± 14.1) | – | – |
| Sex | ||||
| Male Female Ratio |
169 (58.5%) 120 (41.5%) 1:4 |
498 (73.7%) 178 (26.3%) 2:8 |
– 1.99; 1.49–2.65 – |
– <0.01 – |
| Mechanism of injury | ||||
| Motor vehicle occupants Unprotected road users Low falls (< 1 m) High falls (> 1 m) Significant collision (non-road-related) Other causes |
92 (31.8%) 22 (7.6%) 113 (39.1%) 55 (19%) 1 (0.4%) 6 (2.1%) |
364 (53.8%) 79 (11.7%) 37 (5.5%) 128 (18.9%) 56 (8.3%) 12 (1.8%) |
– – 11.09; 7.38–16.66 1; 0.71–1.43 – 1.17; 0.44–3.16 |
– – <0.01 0.97 – 0.75 |
| ISS | ||||
| Median 25th/75th centile Severe (ISS > 15) |
13 9/20 117 (40.5%) |
17 9/24 343 (50.7%) |
17 9/24 – |
– – – |
| Traumatic brain injury, yes | 43 (14.9%) | 124 (18.3%) | – | – |
| Mortality rate | 10.4% | 3% | 3.8; 2.12–6.81 | <0.01 |
Abbreviations: ISS, Injury Severity Score; SD, standard deviation.
Note: Variables in bold demonstrates trend (with statistical significance; p < 0.05) toward the elderly.