Age Matters: Unveiling the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Size and Type on Outcomes in Middle-Aged and…

Cohort studyClinical medicine & research· Jun 2026

Age Matters: Unveiling the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Size and Type on Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients.

Heather Rhodes-Lyons, Adel Elkbuli, David L McClure … Antonio Pepe

NeurotraumaCohort studyPrognosisQ3IF 1.3

In elderly traumatic brain injury patients, contusions over 2cm nearly quintupled odds of in-hospital death.

Age Matters: Unveiling the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Size and Type on Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients.

Heather Rhodes-Lyons … Antonio Pepe

Clinical medicine & research · Jun 2026 · Q3 in General Medicine

Background

Traumatic brain injury (traumatic brain injury) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use File (American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use File) (2017-2022) including 182,661 adults ≥40 years with isolated blunt traumatic brain injury (subdural hematoma >8mm, epidural hematoma >8mm, contusion >2cm, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or diffuse axonal injury [DAI]) and no skull fractures.

n = 182,661 adults

Results

Elderly patients with large brain contusions had almost 5-fold higher odds of dying in hospital.

OR 4.85 (95% CI 3.46 to 6.80)

null 1

3.46

6.80

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

DAI in elderly patients was associated with the longest intensive care unit LOS (+2.63 days, 95% CI 1.76-3.49, P <.01) and ventilator duration (+4.29 days, 95% CI 1.90-6.67, P <.01).

Factors such as anticoagulation use, low Glasgow Coma Scores, and specific comorbidities further increased risk.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Older adults with larger, isolated TBIs, especially contusions and DAI, experience worse clinical outcomes.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings underscore the critical need for age-tailored trauma management protocols and early intervention strategies to reduce mortality and improve recovery in this vulnerable population.

Age Matters: Unveiling the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Size and Type on Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients.

Age Matters: Unveiling the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury Size and Type on Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients.

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