Hospitalized injured older adults: clinical utility of a rib fracture scoring system.

INTRODUCTION: A rib fracture scoring system (RFS) was proposed for risk assessment in hospitalized injured older adults. Development was limited to one site.

PURPOSE: To validate the RFS for clinical utility in predicting outcomes in another hospital setting.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort design.

SAMPLE: Patients aged 50 years or older with rib fracture(s) (N = 81).

SETTING: Level II trauma center.

DATA COLLECTION: Trauma registry data (2002-2005).

DATA ANALYSIS: Bivariate correlations, linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: While the RFS is associated with outcomes, explanatory value is low. Further research is needed to identify hospitalized injured older adults most likely to utilize health services.