UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Findings associated with ICH in fall patients

Category: Trauma

Keywords: ICh, risk factor head injury, geriatric (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/4/2026 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 2/7/2026)
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In a metanalysis of studies looking at intercranial hemorrhage in fall patients older than 65 years, the following were unadjusted odds ratio risk factors for finding an ICH in this patient population:

suspected open or depressed skull fracture , signs of basal skull fracture ), reduced baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score , focal neurologic signs , seizure , vomiting , amnesia , loss of consciousness , headache ), external sign of head trauma , male sex , chronic kidney disease , preinjury single antiplatelet , and dual antiplatelet medication . 

Preinjury anticoagulant was not a significant risk factor.

When looking at adjusted odds rations only focal neurologic signs , external sign of head trauma , loss of consciousness , and male sex were found to be associated with intercranial hemorrhage.

References

Risk Factors for Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage in Older Adults Sustaining a Head Injury in Ground-Level Falls: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Dubucs, Xavier et al.

Annals of Emergency Medicine, Volume 87, Issue 2, 181 - 191