Head injuries in elderly population

Izraziti napredak medicine i nova znanja stečena u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća rezultirali su produženjem očekivanog životnog vijeka čitave populacije. Napredak medicine i skretanje u smjeru prevencije, primarne, sekundarne i tercijarne, glavni su uzrok manjeg obolijevanja od kobnih bolesti ili, u slučaju ako je bolest već započela, pravovremen reakcije i zaustavljanja bolesti. Međutim, starenje je proces koji se ne može zaustaviti te s vremenom stariji ljudi postaju slabiji i, kao takvi, podložniji tipičnim mehanizmima ozljeđivanja kao što je padanje. Uz to ne treba zaboraviti činjenicu da su ljudi starije životne dobi podložniji ozljeđivanju i bezazlenijim mehanizmima. Ovo istraživanje obuhvatilo je 47 ispitanika starijih od 60 godina koji su tijekom lipnja, rujna i prosinca 2017. godine bili zbrinuti na Klinici za neurokirurgiju KBC Rijeka radi ozljeda glave. Prosječna dob ispitanika iznosila je 77 godina, a podjednaki broj ispitanika bio je muškog i ženskog spola. Zabilježeno je 19 prijeloma od koji je najčešći bio prijelom svoda lubanje (11 slučajeva), a zabilježeno je 68 komplikacija koje su pretežno bile unutarlubanjska krvarenja od kojih je najčešće bilo subduralno krvarenje u 24 slučaja. Prijelom je kao uzrok krvarenja unutar lubanje bio prisutan u 37,5% slučajeva. Ovakvi rezultati idu u prilog navedenim tvrdnjama da je starija populacija zbog pratećih kroničnih bolesti podložnija padanju i ozljeđivanju glave od prosječnog stanovništva. Realnost i nužnost suvremene medicine, ali i društva, postaje potreba za boljim rješavanjem svih problema vezanih uz produljenje životne dobi, pa tako i rješavanje neurotraume, u prvom redu organiziranom skrbi za starije intenzivnijim nadzorom u njihovim kućama ili smještanjem u specijalizirane institucije – domove. Uz to, neupitna je potreba za razvojem gerijatrijske skrbi, gerontološke traumatologije, pa i neurotraumatologije u našim bolnicama.Progress of medicine and new knowledge gained in the last few decades resulted in the extension of the expected lifespan of the entire population. The progress of medicine and diversion in the direction of prevention, primary, secondary and tertiary, are the main cause of minor illness from fatal diseases or, if the disease has already begun, timely reactions and halting of disease. However, aging is a process that cannot be stopped and over time older people become weaker and, as such, are more susceptible to typical injury mechanisms such as falling. In addition, it is not necessary to forget the fact that people of older age are more susceptible to injury through harmless mechanisms. This study included 47 respondents older than 60 years who were in June, September and December 2017. disposed of at the clinic for neurosurgery at KBC Rijeka for a head injury. The average age of respondents amounted to 77 years, and the equal number of respondents was male and female. There were 19 fractures, the most common was fracture of the cranium (11 cases), and 68 complications which were predominantly intracranial hemorrhages, most often of which were the subdural hemorrhage in 24 cases. The fracture was cause of 37.5% of intracranial hemorrhages. These findings are in favour of the aforementioned claims that the elderly population due to the accompanying chronic diseases is more susceptible to falling and hurting the head than the average population. The reality and necessity of modern medicine, but also of society, becomes the need for better solving of all problems related to life expectancy, including solving neurotrauma, primarily organized care for older intensive supervision in their homes or by placing them in specialized institutions – homes. In addition, the need for the development of geriatric care, gerontological traumatology, and neurotraumatology in our hospitals is unquestionable