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Chronic Subdural Hematoma in the Elderly: A Challenge in Diagnosis and Treatment
Author(s) -
RASKIND ROBERT,
GLOVER M. BENJAMIN,
WEISS S. R.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1972.tb00822.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic subdural hematoma , concomitant , hematoma , surgery
This report concerns 52 elderly patients with chronic subdural hematoma. Difficulties in diagnosis are enhanced in this age group because many of the elderly cannot give a coherent history and often manifest signs of changes in the central nervous system due to concomitant vascular and other degenerative diseases. Even in aged persons, chronic subdural hematoma is curable by surgical methods. In this series 39 patients were restored to normal function, and 9 to the previous level of function; 3 were lost to follow‐up; and only 1 was worse after surgery; there were no deaths. Poor results are almost always attributable to delay in diagnosis. Hence the importance of paying great attention to diagnostic procedures, and prompt treatment.