Acute subdural hygroma in the posterior fossa (author's transl)]

Four cases of acute or subacute subdural hygromas in the posterior fossa were reported. All showed suboccipital skull fractures radiologically. Two cases of acute subdural hygromas were encounteded during the fiscal year from 1972 to 1973 at Toritsu Toshima Hospital. In the same period 254 patients with head injuries were admitted here and 106 demonstrated skull fractures. Among these 24 exhibited fractures in the suboccipital region. Among these 24 cases 8 showed signs and symptoms of space-occupying lesions in the posterior fossa and were confirmed later surgically (7 cases) or by autopsy (1 case), namely; three extradural hematomas, two acute subdural hygromas as mentioned above, three subdural hematomas with cerebellar contusions. Preoperative courses in these three acute subdural hygomas as well as three subdural hematomas were summarized as follows:lucid interval was followed by severe nuchal pain and rapid downhill course and finally by coma and panea. Retrograde brachial angiographies were performed in cases. The findings were not contributary to locate mass lesions, in three cases, partly because of delayed or faint filling of vessels caused by compression with hematoma or acute subdural hygroma. In short, differential diagnosis between subdural hematoma and subdural hygroma was difficult preoperating. Postoperatively, courses of subdural hematomas were poor or even fatal. On the contrary, patients of acute subdural hygromas showed rapid clinical improvement after evacuation of xanthochromic fluid. The authors stressed that suboccipital craniectomy should be performed as soon as possible to the patients with sugoccipital fractures when vital signs became progressively worse even if little findings were obtained by carotid angiographies. Subdural hygromas in the posterior fossa may have been present in those fatal cases where autopsy finds neither contusion nor hemorrhage but only brain edema or swelling.     

开颅术后并发非手术区急性血肿的探讨

报告开颅术后并发非术区急性血肿14例。其中硬膜外血肿9例，硬膜下血肿3例，脑内血肿2例。分析认为，术中颅内压力的骤降，水后脑蹋陷，为发生硬膜外、硬膜下血肿的主要原因。高龄、高血压、糖尿病患者，手术易并发脑内血肿。术中平缓降颅压，平稳的麻醉，术后严密监护，及时头颅CT扫描是预防和早期诊断此类血肿至关重要的环节。及时再次手术清除血肿是成功救治的关键。文中特别讨论了国产头颅固定架的缺陷及改进措施。     

Heading injury precipitating subdural hematoma associated with arachnoid cysts--two case reports.

A 14-year-old boy and a 11-year-old boy presented with subdural hematomas as complications of preexisting arachnoid cysts in the middle cranial fossa, manifesting as symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Both had a history of heading the ball in a soccer game about 7 weeks and 2 days before the symptom occurred. There was no other head trauma, so these cases could be described as "heading injury." Arachnoid cysts in the middle cranial fossa are often associated with subdural hematomas. We emphasize that mild trauma such as heading of the ball in a soccer game may cause subdural hematomas in patients with arachnoid cysts.     

Acute subdural hematoma of arteriolar origin. Traumatic or spontaneous?

Acute subdural hematomas are usually related to the rupture of a bridging vein with or without tearing of brain matter. In some instances the origin of the hemorrhage is due to the shearing of a cortical arteriole bleeding directly into the subdural space, generally after a minor head trauma. Ten cases were reviewed at Geneva's Neurosurgical clinic over a period of thirteen years (1973-1986). They represent less than 5% of all acute and subacute subdural hematomas treated during that period. Subdural hematomas of venous origin are usually encountered on previously normal brain whereas those of arteriolar origin are thought to result from the disruption of a small arteriolar knuckle adhering to the arachnoid and dura. While the majority of arteriolar hematomas reported here and in the literature are of traumatic origin, some are undoubtedly spontaneous. The clinical features of these hematomas are characterized by a high incidence of falsely localising motor signs, presumably due to the so called Kernohan's phenomenon. Their treatment requires a wide exposure, allowing identification and coagulation of the bleeding source located in most instances around the Sylvian fissure. Although a rare entity, the existence of arteriolar subdural hematomas must be emphasized, since any delay in their treatment may result in a dramatic outcome.     

自发性椎管内硬膜外、硬膜下血肿的诊断和治疗

探讨比较自发性硬脊膜外、硬膜下血肿的出血原因、临床表现、影像特征及治疗预后。结合相关文献，回顾性分析7例自发性硬脊膜外血肿和1例自发性硬膜下血肿的流行病学、发病机制、部位，临床特征、神经功能状态，以及手术，保守治疗和预后。结果有6例患者手术治疗，1例痊愈，2例保守治疗，1例痊愈。自发性硬脊膜外，硬膜下血肿多急性起病,硬脊膜外较硬膜下血肿更为常见，且MRI显示椎管内占位影较CT明显。MRI检查是诊断本病最佳方法。手术减压是改善预后的主要方法。起病到治疗的时间间隔越短预后越好。     

Distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm causing acute subdural hematoma: report of two cases

We report two cases of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms (distal ACA-aneurysm) causing acute subdural hematomas, which were diagnosed preoperatively. Case 1: 56 y.o. female who presented with stupor and right hemiparesis, was operated on 8 hrs. post-ictus. Case 2: 51 y.o. female who presented with semi-coma, anisocoria and decerebrate posture was operated on 5 hrs. post-ictus. She is alive in fair condition at present. Incidence of acute subdural hematomas in association with ruptured cerebral aneurysms has been reported as variously as 0.5 to 7.9% (clinical cases), with their source of bleeding being either IC or MCA aneurysms. Acute subdural hematomas as complication of ruptured distal ACA aneurysms are rare, and to the authors' knowledge, only 6 cases have been reported so far. Review of the literature regarding mechanism of formation of subdural hematoma, clinical course and treatment of choice are also reported.     

Three cases of acute interhemispheric subdural hematoma

Traumatic acute subdural hematomas over the convexity of the cerebral hemispheres are often encountered, but acute interhemispheric subdural hematomas are rare. Fourty-eight cases of acute subdural hematomas was admitted to our hospital between 1977 and 1986, and three cases of them (6%) were located in the interhemispheric subdural space. In this paper, these three cases are reported with 20 documented cases. Case 1: an 81-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of headache, nausea and vomiting. She hit her occiput a week ago. CT scan demonstrated contusion in the right frontal lobe and a high density in the interhemispheric space of the right frontal region. Her complaints disappeared gradually by conservative therapy and she returned to her social life. Case 2: a 50-year-old male fell downstairs and hit his vertex. As he lost consciousness, he was admitted to our hospital. He was stuporous and had left-hemiparesis. Skull X-ray film showed fracture line extending from the right temporal bone to the left parietal bone across the midline. CT scan revealed intracerebral hematoma in both frontal lobe and right parietal lobe and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal cistern and Sylvian fissure of the right side. And interhemispheric subdural hematoma in the right parietal region was visualized. Angiography demonstrated a lateral displacement of the right callosomarginal artery and an avascular area between the falx and the callosomarginal artery. After admission his consciousness recovered and convulsion was controlled by drug. Left-hemiparesis was improved by conservative therapy and he was discharged on foot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Acute subdural hematoma in infancy

BACKGROUND: Acute subdural hematoma in infants is distinct from that occurring in older children or adults because of differences in mechanism, injury thresholds, and the frequency with which the question of nonaccidental injury is encountered. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics of acute subdural hematoma in infancy, to discover the common patterns of this trauma, and to outline the management principles within this group. METHODS: Medical records and films of 21 cases of infantile acute subdural hematoma were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnosis was made by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Medical records were reviewed for comparison of age, gender, cause of injury, clinical presentation, surgical management, and outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-one infants (9 girls and 12 boys) were identified with acute subdural hematoma, with ages ranging from 6 days to 12 months. The most common cause of injury was shaken baby syndrome. The most common clinical presentations were seizure, retinal hemorrhage, and consciousness disturbance. Eight patients with large subdural hematomas underwent craniotomy and evacuation of the blood clot. None of these patients developed chronic subdural hematoma. Thirteen patients with smaller subdural hematomas were treated conservatively. Among these patients, 11 developed chronic subdural hematomas 15 to 80 days (mean = 28 days) after the acute subdural hematomas. All patients with chronic subdural hematomas underwent burr hole and external drainage of the subdural hematoma. At follow-up, 13 (62%) had good recovery, 4 (19%) had moderate disability, 3 (14%) had severe disability, and 1 (5%) died. Based on GCS on admission, one (5%) had mild (GCS 13-15), 12 (57%) had moderate (GCS 9-12), and 8 (38%) had severe (GCS 8 or under) head injury. Good recovery was found in 100% (1/1), 75% (8/12), and 50% (4/8) of the patients with mild, moderate, and severe head injury, respectively. Sixty-three percent (5/8) of those patients undergoing operation for acute subdural hematomas and 62% (8/13) of those patients treated conservatively had good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Infantile acute subdural hematoma if treated conservatively or neglected, is an important cause of infantile chronic subdural hematoma. Early recognition and suitable treatment may improve the outcome of this injury. If treatment is delayed or the condition is undiagnosed, acute subdural hematoma may cause severe morbidity or even fatality.     

Subdural hematomas in the newborn. Surgical treatment and results

Subdural hematomas were evacuated in 41 newborns during the first 4 days after birth. Subdural hematomas due to birth trauma may be subdivided into supratentorial, subtentorial, and suprasubtentorial. The location was frequently bilateral. The clinical course and diagnosis are described. Evacuation of the subdural hematoma was performed by subdural taps, linear craniotomies through the coronal and lambdoid sutures, and, in some cases, by combined approaches. The results were favorable in 68.3% of cases.     

Multiple chronic subdural hematoma in shaken-baby syndrome

We described a case of shaken-baby syndrome with multiple chronic subdural hematomas. A 10-month-old male baby was admitted to our hospital because of loss of consciousness and convulsions. CT scan revealed an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage extending into the interhemispheric fissure and supracerebellar space. The patient was treated conservatively, and discharged from the hospitaL Two months after ictus, a baby was admitted to our hospital with general fatigue. CT scan demonstrated multiple chronic subdural hematomas. Burr hole irrigation and drainage brought about complete disappearance of these lesions. Retrospectively, it was found that these multiple subdural hematomas were due to shaken-baby syndrome. Shaken-baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that can cause significant head injury, and subdural hematoma is the most common manifestation. It is well known that the outcome of shaken-baby syndrome is generally not good. It is important to suspect shaken-baby syndrome when a chronic subdural hematoma is seen in a baby.     

Traumatic hematomas of the posterior fossa. A clinicopathological spectrum

Eight patients were found to have traumatic hematomas of the posterior fossa during a 6-year period. There were four patients with extradural hematomas, one patient with a subdural hematoma, and four patients with intracerebellar hematomas. In one patient, clinically significant hematomas were found both in the extradural space and in the cerebellum. Clinical or radiologic evidence of skull fracture was present in each case, and computed tomography scans were diagnostic of a posterior fossa hematoma in all cases. In six of the eight patients, there was clinical deterioration prior to surgical treatment, and in three cases, this was abrupt. All patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Six patients survived; four made a good recovery. Our experience indicates that early operation is usually indicated for these lesions.     

Eosinophil degranulation in the capsule of chronic subdural hematomas

A previously unrecognized role of eosinophils in chronic subdural hematomas is described. Outer membranes of hematomas with marked infiltration by eosinophils were studied ultrastructurally with particular attention to the degranulation of these cells. In all of the five cases studied, degranulation was observed. Disintegration of the cells contributed to the release of granules. The free granules, the matrix of which has been demonstrated to contain plasminogen, were often circulating in the vascular lumen and trapped among the aggregated platelets. They were also found within the fragile vascular wall surrounded by fibrinoid material and in the edematous perivascular interstitium. Some of the perivascular eosinophils showed frank solubilization of granule matrix contents in spite of unaltered crystalloids. These findings suggest a role of eosinophils in the development of local hyperfibrinolysis within the outer membranes, which might contribute to the fluidity of chronic subdural hematomas and the resultant leakage of blood from the vessels in the capsules.     

Long-term follow-up review of patients with acute and subacute subdural hematomas

The authors present 149 patients suffering from acute (112) and subacute (37) subdural hematomas admitted during the 10-year period 1965 to 1974, with a follow-up period of 2 to 12 years. During the time of observation, 104 patients died and 45 survived; 73% of the patients with acute and 27% with subacute subdural hematomas died. Of the patients with an acute subdural hematoma, 11% went back to work, as against 32% of those with subacute subdural hematomas. The 5-year survival rate was 28% in patients with acute and 76% in patients with subacute subdural hematomas.     

Acute nontraumatic spinal subdural hematomas in three patients.

STUDY DESIGN: The clinical data, magnetic resonance imaging, intraoperative findings, and functional outcome were reviewed for three patients under anticoagulant therapy who experienced acute nontraumatic spinal subdural hematoma. OBJECTIVES: To draw attention to this rare complication of anticoagulant therapy and to assess the magnetic resonance findings and clinical outcome of patients with spinal subdural hematoma after surgical evacuation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Among intraspinal hematomas, spinal subdural hematomas are by far the least common. Magnetic resonance findings have been demonstrated in only a few cases of spinal subdural hematomas. The timing of the operation and the anatomic location of the hematoma essentially determine the functional outcome. METHODS: Three case reports of spinal subdural hematomas in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy are presented. Particular interest was given to the clinical and magnetic resonance data, the intraoperative findings, and the functional outcome. RESULTS: The three patients each had a complete preoperative neurologic deficit. Sagittal T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of the spine proved to have high sensitivity for defining the type of bleeding and delineating the craniocaudal extension of the hematoma. Surgical evacuation was performed within 26 hours after the onset of symptoms. Intraoperative findings showed the hematoma to be confined between the dura and the arachnoid in two patients, and to be associated with rupture into the subarachnoid space in one patient. Postoperative recovery was incomplete in two patients, and did not improve in the remaining patient. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal subdural hematoma must be considered in patients under anticoagulant therapy with spontaneous signs of acute spinal cord or cauda equina compression. Magnetic resonance imaging with sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images were adequate and reliable for diagnosis of spinal subdural hematoma. On the basis of previous studies and the authors' intraoperative findings, spinal subdural hematomas could be viewed as spinal dural border hematomas. The level of preoperative neurologic deficit seemed to be critical for recovery despite prompt surgical evacuation.     

Treatment of recurrent chronic subdural hematoma--setting an Ommaya tube

The rate of postoperative recurrences of chronic subdural hematomas is high. Several methods have been advocated, but each one remains controversial. We proposed a simple method of setting an Ommaya tube after burr-hole evacuation. The reservoir was placed in the subcutaneous space, the tip of the tube was placed in the subdural space. The reservoir was punctured with a needle, thereby allowing aspiration of fluid from the subdural space. Sixty one cases of chronic subdural hematomas were operated by simple burr-hole evacuation. The Ommaya tube was used in 46 selected patients.: 1) the volume of hematoma was more than 100 ml and, or 2) older than 70 years of age. Reaccumulation of subdural effusion was detected in 10 cases. The subdural effusions were drained by percutaneously needling the reservoir of the Ommaya tube. This procedure was curative in 9 of the patients. However 1 patient required a small craniotomy. The patient had two outer membranes therefore inner hematoma could not be removed. The authors propose this technique and discuss about it.     

Spinal chronic subdural hematoma

Although chronic subdural hematomas are rare, they are likely to be more frequently reported as the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics become defined. Chronic spinal subdural hematomas (CSSDH) are extremely rare; these hematomas are frequently spontaneous and related to minor trauma. Although generally said to carry a poor prognosis, CSSDH can be a reversible cause of paraplegia. This article reviews the history, classification, clinical presentation, and treatment of CSSDH.     

Ursachen und Umstände des Todes bei subduralen Hämatomen

This study concerns lethal subdural hematomas in the autopsy material at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Hamburg (n=102; 0.9% of 11462 autopsies 1980 to 1988). 63 fatalities were male (mean age 46 years) and 39 were female (mean age 53 years). Subdural hematomas were predominantly located parietotemporal (64%) and had an average volume of 125 ml. Rupture of the bridging veins and contusions of the cerebral cortex were frequent sources of bleeding. In one third of cases the exact topographical site of bleeding was not determined. 90% of the subdural hematomas were of traumatic origin, two thirds had an acute clinical course of less than twelve hours; 23 times neurosurgical intervention took place. With respect to the criminal and civil law it is of decisive significance to explain the causal relationship between subdural hematomas and preceding trauma. Recently there is an increase of reproaches against physicians in case that the subdural hematoma (e. g. of inebriated, persons) was not diagnosed and treated immediately.     

Subdural hematoma and anticoagulant therapy]

The authors report a series of 22 cases of subdural hematomas in patients submitted to anticoagulant therapy. A review of the literature finds 150 cases. Subdural hematomas occurs in about one third of the patients presenting hemorrhage of central nervous system related to anticoagulant therapy. Among subdural hematomas of any cause, the possible role of a previous anticoagulant therapy is stressed in 4,8 to 14% of cases. In most cases, long term anticoagulants were indicated for arterial or heart (ischemic) lesions (16/22 cases). In 6 cases, anticoagulants were indicated for prevention or treatment of pulmonary embolies. In 18 cases, anticoagulant drug is from the group of dicoumarol or phenylindanedione. In 3 cases, the only anticoagulant given to patient was heparin. Pathogenic study suggests that hypocoagulability might not always be the only factor of bleeding: high blood pressure, other drugs and head trauma (10 cases) are often associated. Clinical features, in our series, are similar to those encountered in cases of subdural hematoma of any cause. According to the existence of a cranial injury and to the chronology of anticoagulant therapy, the authors divide their 22 patients into 3 groups. The use of protamin sulfate or human plasma fraction PPSB provides in few minutes a normal coagulability. Neurosurgical treatment in all our cases evacuated in 11 patients a chronic subdural hematoma, in 2 cases an acute, and in 9 cases a subacute hematoma. Results were fair in 19 patients with no sequelae. 3 patients died during the immediate post-operative period. The authors conclude by stressing several preventive measures.     

Origin of spinal subdural hematomas: a postmortem anatomical study

OBJECTIVE: Although the mechanism by which cranial subdural hematomas form is known, the formation of spinal subdural hematomas is less clearly defined. The aim of this study was to identify vessels that can be found in the dural sac and whose rupture might lead to the formation of spinal subdural hematomas. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The dura mater, subdural space, and the arachnoid mater were studied in samples of dural sac taken from the eleventh thoracic vertebra to the fifth lumbar vertebra. The samples were taken from 3 fresh cadavers. Some were fixed in glutaraldehyde, dehydrated, and metallized with gold for scanning electron microscopy. Others were fixed in glutaraldehyde, treated with osmium tetroxide, and embedded in an epoxy resin for observation under a transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Small hematomas--some on the internal surface of the dura mater and others surrounding nerve roots--were found within a thin, translucent arachnoid mater. Vessels measuring up to 100 microm were found within the dura mater, between its inner and outer laminae. Venules and capillaries were observed in the subdural space and in the arachnoid mater. CONCLUSIONS: Vessels are present between the laminae of the dura mater, in the subdural space, the arachnoid mater, and in spinal nerve roots. The rupture of these vessels could account for the formation of spinal subdural hematomas.     

Contralateral development of chronic subdural hematoma after evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma. A case report

Contralateral acute complications such as acute epi/subdural hematomas can be encountered after evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma, though they are rare. We found only one case of chronic subdural hematoma following the surgery for contralateral chronic subdural hematoma, have been published in English language literature. A 73-year-old male admitted to our hospital with a right-sided subdural hematoma. The subdural hematoma was evacuated through a burr-hole. A left-sided subdural higroma appeared after operation and turned into classical subdural hematoma in the course of time. After evacuation of contralateral chronic subdural hematoma, the patient recovered completely. All stages of the development of contralateral chronic subdural hematomas were shown by serial computed tomograms. It was suggested that traumatic chronic subdural hematomas develop from mostly subdural higromas. If contralateral subdural higroma is seen after surgical evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma, the possibility of development of contralateral chronic subdural hematoma must be kept on mind.