Investigating age-stratified outcomes following surgical fixation of humeral shaft fractures in the elderly.

PURPOSE: As the global population ages, fractures among elderly individuals are increasing, with humeral shaft fractures (HSFs) comprising 3% of long bone fractures. While chronological age has been shown to influence surgical outcomes in elderly patients, there is paucity of literature examining age-specific differences in outcomes for HSF management. Given variations in bone quality, comorbid conditions, and functional status among elderly patients, an age-stratified approach may be necessary. This study aims to compare in-hospital outcomes following HSF fixation across geriatric age groups to inform treatment strategies. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database (2015-2021) was queried for patients with HSFs and subsequent fixation. Patients were stratified into three groups: <65, 65-79, and ≥ 80 years. Multivariate logistic regression assessed associations between each age group and adverse outcomes. A secondary analysis was done comparing patients ≥ 80 with those aged 65-79. RESULTS: A total of 5,276 patients were included in the three-group analysis. Both the 65-79 and ≥ 80 cohorts had higher odds of extended length of stay (eLOS), non-home discharge (NHD), and acute kidney injury (AKI). Only the ≥ 80 group was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. After excluding those < 65, 2,777 patients remained for the two-group analysis. The ≥ 80 group was associated with increased odds of mortality, eLOS, and NHD compared to patients aged 65-79. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the importance of considering an age-stratified approach to surgical management of HSFs in the elderly. These results provide further information for clinicians to help guide patients and family in clinical decision making for geriatric HSFs.