Die Entwicklung des klinischen Outcomes nach Schädel-Hirn-Trauma bei Patienten über 60 Jahren – Ein Vergleich zwischen einer aktuellen Patientenkohorte und einer früheren aus den 80er Jahren

by Niklas van Essen
Doctoral thesis
Date of Examination:2026-01-15
Date of issue:2025-12-11
Advisor:PD Dr. Abboud Tammam
Referee:PD Dr. Abboud Tammam
Referee:Prof. Dr. Christine von Arnim
Referee:PD Dr. Dirk Fitzner
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-11698

 

 

Files in this item

Name:van Essen_Niklas_Dissertation.pdf
Size:929.Kb
Format:PDF

This file will be freely accessible after 2026-02-12.

Abstract

English

With demographic aging, the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults is increasing significantly. Elderly patients exhibit distinct risk profiles, different trauma mechanisms, and increased vulnerability. The aim of this dissertation was to analyze the clinical outcome of TBI patients over 60 years of age in a contemporary cohort and to compare these findings with a historical cohort from the late 1980s. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,023 patients aged ≥60 years who were treated at the University Medical Center Göttingen between 2008 and 2019, with outcomes measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Demographic data, mechanisms of injury, diagnoses, and comorbidities were collected. The results were compared with a cohort of 174 patients treated between 1987 and 1989. Advanced age was significantly associated with poorer outcomes and higher mortality at all assessment points. Comorbidities and pre-injury functional impairments showed prognostic relevance. Falls were identified as the most common mechanism of trauma. In the historical comparison, despite a higher average age in the contemporary cohort, overall outcomes were not worse, indicating medical progress. The findings underscore the particular vulnerability of older TBI patients and the prognostic importance of age, comorbidities, and functional status. The growing significance of geriatric TBI necessitates age-adapted guidelines and specialized care structures.
Keywords: tbi