Chronic subdural hematoma in extremely aged patients

445 cases of chronic subdural hematomas have been operated on during the last 35 years (1951-1986). The ages of the patients ranged from 14 to 91 years and averaged 54 years. Two groups of patients were considered and compared: (A) extremely aged patients, who were over 75 years old, and (B) patients in their sixth decade of life whose age was in fact close to the mean age of chronic subdural hematoma patients in our experience. There were 35 cases (8% of the total number of cases) in group A and 113 cases (26%) in group B. Presumably etiological trauma was less severe in elderly patients who more frequently showed a background of hormonal derangement, such as liver and/or prostatic disease. Bilateral hematomas were detected more frequently in older patients. They usually presented with mental retardation, unlike younger patients who more frequently had symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure. Early postoperative complications occurred more frequently in older patients. However, this did not preclude obtaining good results in more than three quarters of them. The implications of these findings are discussed.