A routine geriatric consultation can improve functional recovery for adults 65 years and older, according to an article in JAMA Surgery.
Researchers examined data from two groups of geriatric trauma patients — one comprised of patients who had a geriatric consultation before surgery and the other comprised of patients who had not.
In a survey of five daily living activities, patients who had received geriatric consultations were able to do more 12 months after discharge than patients who did not receive a geriatric consultation. The activity most often lost by non-geriatric consultation patients was the ability to shop for personal items.
The study concludes geriatric consultation may help older adults stay functional for longer following a traumatic injury.
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