Subdural hematoma occurrence: comparison between ethanol and cocaine use at death.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to show that, in a medical examiner population, ethanol intoxication is associated with an increase in the occurrence of subdural hematoma (SDH), whereas the presence of cocaine is not associated with an increase in the occurrence of SDH.


METHODS
This was a retrospective evaluation of 967 SDH including the investigative information, autopsy, and toxicological findings derived from 18,314 medical examiner cases over 8 years.


RESULTS
Subdural hematoma is found in 7% to 9% of cases with either no ethanol or less than 100 mg/dL of ethanol. Subdural hematoma is found in 18% of cases with ethanol levels of greater than 100 mg/dL. Subdural hematoma is found in 11% of cases negative for cocaine, whereas SDH is found in 9% of cases with any form of cocaine present at death.
Fulton County Medical Examiner's Center and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30312, USA. Michael.Heninger@fultoncountyga.gov
Michael
M
Heninger
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000473:pathology*; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009294:Narcotics / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D009294:Narcotics; D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine