Impact of Daytime Versus On-Call Admission on Outcomes in Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Analysis from a Neurotrauma Center

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a growing cause of medical emergencies globally. Objective: This study evaluates whether healthcare outcomes for TBI patients differ between daytime and on-call (after-hours) admissions. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from a hospital database spanning January 2015 to December 2019. Of the 670 cases reviewed, 45 patients over the age of 65 were admitted with head trauma. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Surgical interventions were significantly less frequent during on-call hours. Admission type (elective vs. emergent) showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Postoperative ICU length of stay (LOS) was markedly longer for on-call admissions (p = 0.002). Due to a controlled sample size, p-value interpretations would need some discretion. TBI patients admitted during on-call hours had a 9.9-fold increase in ICU stay, a 2.5-fold increase in total hospital LOS, and a 475% higher complication rate compared to daytime admissions. Complication rates were 20% for daytime admissions versus 92% for on-call admissions. Furthermore, patients treated during on-call hours were 11 times more likely to be discharged in an unconscious state (GCS < 8). Conclusions: TBI outcomes are significantly worse during on-call hours. Enhancing imaging availability and staffing during these periods may help improve patient outcomes.