Frontal lobe trauma in the elderly

Preview

An elderly person who sustains a head injury often is left with neuropsychiatric damage that has the potential to do more harm than the physical trauma. Changes in personality and behavior that result from trauma to the frontal lobe can be puzzling and upsetting to the patient as well as to his or her family or caretakers. Although no single clinical sign is pathognomonic of such injury, certain clinical features are typical and point to the diagnosis. Dr Massey discusses these signs and also summarizes methods to restore, as nearly as possible, a satisfactory life-style to these patients.