Efficacy and safety of postoperative early mobilization for chronic subdural hematoma in elderly patients

The incidences of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) will probably increase with the aging of the population; thus, postoperative care of elderly CSDH patients may play a more important role in surgical management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of and adverse effects after postoperative early mobilization (EM) for elderly CSDH patients.

This is a single-institution historical control study. One hundred eighty-two patients with CSDH aged 65 years and older underwent one burr-hole surgery between 2001 and 2008. This institution has prospectively conducted an EM protocol after surgery since 2005. The emphasis of the EM was helping patients not only to an upright position but also to walk beginning the day of operation. The incidences of postoperative complications and recurrence of CSDH were compared between the EM group (n = 91; 76.5 +/- 6.5 years old) and a delayed mobilization (DM) group (n = 91; 77.9 +/- 7.5 years old).

Postoperative complications, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infection, was observed in 24 (26.4%) in the DM group and 11 (12.1%) in the EM group (p < 0.05). The rate of recurrence did not differ between the two groups (6.6% and 8.8%, respectively; p = 0.58).

The results suggest that EM after one burr-hole surgery prevents postoperative complications without increasing the risk of recurrence in CSDH patients > or =65 years of age.