[Diagnosis and treatment of chronic traumatic subdural hematomas in middle and old age]

The peculiar features of the clinical picture, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of chronic traumatic subdural hematomas were studied in 72 patients of elderly and old age. In 98% of patients they occurred after mild craniocerebral trauma of the type of brain concussion. Local signs prevailed over general cerebral signs in all phases of the disease, productive disorders of consciousness were rare as compared to nonproductive disturbances, marked intellectual-mnemonic disorders were often encountered. Echo-EG, radionuclide scintigraphy, carotid angiography and computed tomography proved to be the most informative paraclinical diagnostic methods. The expediency of performing maximally sparing operative intervention of a short duration in individuals over 60 years of age is pointed out.