TY - JOUR PY - 2013// TI - Severe traumatic brain injury in Norway: Impact of age on outcome JO - Journal of rehabilitation medicine A1 - Roe, Cecilie A1 - Skandsen, Toril A1 - Anke, Audny A1 - Ader, Tiina A1 - Vik, Anne A1 - Lund, Stine Borgen A1 - Mannskow, Unn A1 - Sollid, Snorre A1 - Sundstrøm, Terje A1 - Hestnes, Morten A1 - Andelic, Nada SP - 734 EP - 740 VL - 45 IS - 8 N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age on mortality and 3-month outcome in a Norwegian cohort of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Norwegian residents ≥ 16 years of age who were admitted with a severe TBI to the country's 4 major trauma centres in 2009 and 2010 were included, as were adults (16- 64 years) and elderly patients (≥ 65 years). RESULTS: Half of the adult subjects and 84% of the elderly subjects were injured by falls. One-third of the adults and half of the elderly subjects were admitted to a local hospital before being transported to a regional trauma hospital. Subdural haematomas were more frequent in the elderly subjects. One-quarter of adults and two-thirds of the elderly subjects died within 3 months. At 3 months, 41% of the adult survivors were still in-patients, mainly in rehabilitation units (92%). Of the surviving elderly subjects, 14% were in-patients and none were in rehabilitation units. There was no difference in functional level for survivors at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Old age is associated with fall-induced severe TBI and high mortality rates. Less intensive treatment strategies were applied to elderly patients in the present study despite high rates of haemorrhage. Few surviving elderly patients received rehabilitation at 3 months post-injury.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1650-1977 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1198 ID - ref1 ER -