title: Subdural Hemorrhage, a Retrospective Review with Emphasis on a Cohort of Alcoholics.
abstract: Subdural hemorrhage (SDH) is a common cause of death. As external evidence of injury may be absent, an autopsy is frequently needed to detect it. We conducted a 3-year review of SDH from the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, with emphasis on a cohort of alcoholics. Our study population of 1942 included 1588 alcoholics. Of the alcoholics, c. 8% had SDH (26% of the total number of SDH). Of the alcoholics with SDH, 57% had associated brain injuries. As alcohol intoxication is frequently associated with aggressive and violent behavior, we are concerned that 6% of alcoholics in our review had no autopsy or imaging studies. It is possible that a portion of these may have had a SDH due to an unrecognized inflicted injury. We recommend that autopsies be performed on all alcoholics without a clear cause or mechanism of death.
authors.affiliation: New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, 10016, NY.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: deRoux
authors.affiliation: Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, 520 First Ave, New York, 10016, NY.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgarlato
mesh_terms: D057229:Alcoholics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: acute subdural hemorrhage; alcohol; alcoholic; chronic subdural hemorrhage; forensic science; trauma