Evaluation of Head Injury in the Emergency Department

This review summarizes the latest evidence in the evaluation of older adults presenting to the emergency department following head injury. The incidence of traumatic intracranial bleeding in older adults is rising. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Early identification is critical to facilitate appropriate medical care. Evaluation of the older adult can be challenging due to frailty, delirium, and baseline cognitive and neurologic abnormalities. Clinical decision rules are helpful to identify patients who require advanced imaging. Warfarin slightly increases the risk of traumatic intracranial bleeding, and antiplatelet medications may also increase the risk.