Results published in The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma showed a decreased lean psoas cross-sectional area may be associated with an increased all-cause mortality rate at 1 year among elderly patients who experienced orthopedic trauma.

Basel M. Touban , MD, and colleagues reviewed demographic and clinical data, injury mechanisms, fracture OTA/AO classification and mortality for 558 patients with a mean age of approximately 76.65 years admitted for trauma. Researchers used axial CT images to measure the lean psoas cross*sectional area at the L3-L4 disc space. The main outcome measure was 1-year all-cause mortality, which was defined as death within 12 months from the date of hospitalization.