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Presentation Description
Institution: Royal Darwin Hospital - Northern Territory , Australia
Purpose
With the rising incidence of subdural haematomas (SDH), understanding its local epidemiological patterns is crucial for targeted prevention and healthcare preparedness. This retrospective single-centre audit examined these patterns in the Northern Territory where cultural, social, and geographic challenges add complexity.
Methodology
Patients with convexity SDH admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital between June 2014 and May 2020 were identified. Clinical data was extracted from medical records and 2016 Census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were used to estimate local incidence.
Results
A total of 247 patients were admitted with convexity SDH (70% male, 43% Indigenous), with 108 requiring surgery. Surgical intervention was required in 73 of 192 acute and 35 of 55 chronic SDH cases. Total incidence was 23.4 (95% CI: 17.3-31.7) per 100,000 persons per year (PPY), and for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations were 43.9 (95% CI: 27.7-69.7) and 16.9 (95% CI: 11.26-25.4) per 100,000 PPY respectively. Mean age at presentation was 47years for Indigenous and 66years for non-Indigenous patients. The average distance to the hospital was 25.9km requiring 1.47hours of travel. Assault was the leading cause of acute subdural haematomas in the Indigenous population (39.6%), while falls were most common in non-Indigenous (52.5%). Alcohol intoxication was noted in 93 cases, predominantly in acute SDH (85 cases).
Conclusion
Reviewing the local epidemiological patterns of SDH in the Northern Territory highlights the disparities in incidence, age and causes of SDH between Indigenous and non-indigenous populations, emphasising the need for targeted prevention and management strategies.
Presenters
Authors
Authors
Dr Charlie Cho - , Dr Joseph Yoon - , Dr Claire Maree O’Bryan - , Dr Rhiannon Oakhill - , Dr Michael Redmond -