Forensic Head Trauma in Elderly Patients Accompanying Comorbidities

Abstract

Aim:To evaluate the characteristics and accompanying comorbidities of patients aged 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with head trauma and were evaluated as forensic cases.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted with a retrospective evaluation of 157 patients aged 65 years and over who were admitted to the emergency department and evaluated as forensic cases.Results:The most common cause of head trauma was a fall. Of the patients, 38.9% were hospitalized for follow-up, 14% were followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 14% died. Falling from a height, the presence of accompanying thoracic trauma, and an increased number of requested consultations were statistically associated with hospitalization (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant relationship between mortality and the presence of falling from a height as the cause of trauma, accompanying pelvic trauma, hemorrhage on brain computed tomography, ICU follow-up requirement, and active partial thromboplastin time among the coagulation parameters (p<0.001).Conclusion:Trauma has become the most important socioeconomic problem due to its consequences, such as death and disability in elderly patients. Intracranial bleeding, the presence of accompanying conditions, increases mortality; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is required in the emergency care of this patient.

Keywords

• forensic case
• 65 years and over
• head trauma
• comorbidities