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Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation
Published on: October 15, 2021
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Intracranial haemorrhage and falls: cause or effect?
Lauren Vrbanic1, Ciara Hunt2, Maeve Cooney2
1School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Irish Journal of Medical Science
|December 19, 2022
Summary
Determining if intracranial hemorrhage caused or resulted from a fall is challenging. A neuropathologic examination is crucial for analyzing fatal falls with intracranial hemorrhage.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Forensic Medicine
- Autopsy Practice
Background:
- Distinguishing the cause of intracranial hemorrhage in relation to falls is a persistent challenge in forensic pathology.
- Autopsy reports often lack definitive conclusions regarding the causal link between falls and intracranial bleeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between falls and intracranial hemorrhage in autopsy cases.
- To determine the incidence and characteristics of intracranial hemorrhage in individuals with a history of falls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2,126 autopsy reports from 2009-2018.
- Focused examination of 226 cases with a history of falls, including comprehensive post-mortem neuropathologic assessment.
Main Results:
- Intracranial hemorrhage was present in 79% of fall cases (175/226).
- Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (77%) was more common than spontaneous (23%).
- Falls from standing height were the most frequent cause of traumatic hemorrhage, with cerebral contusions and subdural hemorrhages being prevalent.
Conclusions:
- A thorough neuropathologic examination is essential for accurately analyzing fatal falls involving intracranial hemorrhage.
- Integrating neuropathologic findings into the overall death investigation improves the understanding of fall-related fatalities.
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