title: Acute extradural haematoma in the elderly.
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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Le Roux
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Nadvi
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data