[Clinical studies on chronic subdural haematomas in 140 adults (author's transl)]

Out of the 140 adult patients with chronic subdural haematoma 17% were female. An overall relationship of CSH cases to the total number of subdural haematomas was 27%. In only 78% of the CSH could a history of trauma be traced. Most of the patients were between the ages of 50 and 70. The main symptoms were headache, abnormal psychic behaviour and paresis. Alcoholism and anticoagulant therapy accounted for only 13% and 3% respectively. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 25% of cases not only after craniotomy but also after burr-holes. The total mortality was 15%. With regard to diagnosis and the indications for operation, angiography which was previously used has, since 1977, been superseded by the CT-scan.