Abstract

MOSQUERA BETANCOURT, Gretel; VARELA HERNANDEZ, Ariel  and  VALDEBLANQUEZ ATENCIO, Johanna. Hospital management of the minor cranioencephalic trauma in the elderly. AMC [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.1. ISSN 1025-0255.

Background: elderly people are the most vulnerable of suffering from cranioencephalic trauma. Nowadays the increase of geriatric population in the world suggests that cranioencephalic trauma in the grown-ups of sixty years will become in a significant health problem.  Objective: to describe a protocol for the treatment of mild cranioencephalic trauma in elderly patients. Method: A descriptive study of one-hundred twenty-three elder patients with sixty years and more who suffered mild cranioencephalic trauma was conducted who were admitted to the neurosurgery service at Manuel Ascunce Domenech Hospital from January 2002 to January 2005. The Stein-Ross classification for mild cranioencephalic trauma and descriptive statistics methods were applied. Results: The male sex and the group from sixty to seventy-nine years prevailed.  The 61% had suffered form some chronic disease.  The mild cranioencephalic trauma was the most frequent kind of trauma and chronic subdural hematoma was the major incidence complication. Conclusion: mild cranioencephalic trauma in elderly patients may have a favorable evolution, but it should not be underrated and its treatment should be guided to focus on early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for intracranial hematoma.

Keywords : aged; craneocerebral trauma; hospital care.

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