Citation

Le Roux AA, Nadvi SS. Br. J. Neurosurg. 2007; 21(1): 16-20.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosurgery, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02688690601170692

PMID

17453769

Abstract

The world's population of persons over 65 years of age (elderly) is increasing. Acute extradural haematoma (AEDH) in the elderly is rare. There has not been a publication dedicated solely to the evaluation of AEDH in the elderly. We undertook this study in order to establish a clinical profile in this important subgroup. It took the form of a retrospective evaluation of the in-patient charts of elderly patients with AEDH, performed over a 23-year period (1983-2005) at a single institution. Of 3249 patients with AEDH, 32 (<1%) were defined as elderly. Assault was the commonest causative factor (56%), followed by falls (25%) and motor vehicle accidents (19%). Eight patients died (25% mortality). Only a third of patients, (34%) made a good outcome, the majority of these were assault victims. No patient in coma, or over 75 years made a good outcome. The prognosis of elderly patients with AEDH is poor. Conservative treatment for comatose patients and the over 75s is justified.

Language: en