Rapid resolution of acute subdural hematoma and effects on the size of existent subdural hygroma: a case report

The diagnosis and management of acute subdural hematoma is important in neurosurgery practice. Rapid spontaneous resolution of acute subdural hematoma within a few hours is seen rarely on the CT scan. We present a case that enlarged the existent subdural hygroma showing rapid resolution of acute subdural hematoma with resolution in 9 hours after the trauma. Additionally, the follow-up CT scans in the 1st month showed the decrease of enlargement of subdural hygroma. The resolution of acute subdural hematoma and effect of acute subdural hematoma on subdural hygroma must be considered during management. The relation of acute subdural hematoma and subdural hygroma is important for the resolution and management of acute subdural hematoma.     

大脑外侧裂开放并蛛网膜撕裂治疗外伤性顽固性硬膜下积液

目的探讨大脑外侧裂开放并蛛网膜撕裂治疗外伤性顽固性硬膜下积液的效果。方法 56例外伤性顽固性硬膜下积液患者,行大脑外侧裂开放并蛛网膜撕裂术,术后随访患者的硬膜下积液复发情况。结果本组56例经手术治疗临床症状消失,术后复查CT示积液完全消失。术后随访,55例无复发,有效率达98.2%。结论大脑外侧裂开放并蛛网膜撕裂是治疗外伤性顽固性硬膜下积液的最佳方法。     

Do cranial subdural hematomas migrate to the lumbar spine?

We report a patient with minor head trauma-related bilateral hemispheric subdural hematoma (SDH) and subsequent delayed spinal SDH or presumed migration to the lumbar spine. An acutely confused 88-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department after minor head trauma. Head CT scan revealed a small hemispheric SDH. The patient was admitted for observation. CT scan 6 hours later showed bilateral SDH with extension to the tentorium. Three days later SDH had resolved leaving bilateral subdural hygromas. Local leg weakness localized to the lumbar spine developed on day 6; spinal CT scan and MRI revealed a posterior L5-S1 collection. A pure subacute subdural hematoma compressing the cauda equina was drained after an L5 laminectomy. His lower leg weakness improved. The patient was discharged to rehabilitation two weeks after surgery. Patients with traumatic SDH who develop late-onset neurological deterioration attributable to any region of the spine should be evaluated for spinal SDH.     

儿童蛛网膜囊肿破裂致硬膜下积液1例病例报告及文献复习

目的:探讨儿童蛛网膜囊肿合并硬膜下积液的病因、临床特征及治疗方法。方法:报告1例儿童左颞蛛网膜囊肿破裂致硬膜下积液病例,结合文献探讨该疾病的病因、临床表现、影像学特征及治疗。结果:在蛛网膜囊肿破裂致硬膜下积液的病例中,80%病例的囊肿位于中颅窝,半数以上病例有明确外伤史,CT或MRI可明确诊断,治疗多采取引流或开窗手术。结论:蛛网膜囊肿和硬膜下积液相关联的病例少见。CT或MRI具有诊断价值,一般采取手术治疗,目前倾向引入显微手术及内窥镜技术来治疗,建议根据囊肿类型选取分流手术。     

Surgical outcome of 32 cases in traumatic subdural hygroma]

32 cases of traumatic subdural hygroma (TSH) in adults with surgical treatment were retrospectively investigated by means by clinical features and CT findings. The cases consisted of 29 males and 3 females, aged 41 to 87 years (mean 69). Preparative CT scan of all cases revealed low density area and crescent shape in frontotemporal or frontoparietal subdural space. Half of the cases had bilateral lesions. At operation of TSH, color of subdural fluid collections was more water clear or xanthochromic than bloody. As a results, 22 out of 32 cases (69%) in TSH improved with surgical treatment. Many of effective cases of surgical treatment in TSH had short interval from trauma to operation and light disturbance of consciousness before operation. However, the other intracranial damage will also affect the clinical outcome of TSH, because the majority of cases in this study was accompanied by an intracranial damage including cerebral contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracranial hemorrhage. Nevertheless, surgical management for TSH was so effective that the operation should be undergone sooner interval from trauma, simultaneously considering the another intracranial lesions except TSH. But then, we experienced 7 cases (22%) of ventricular dilatation and 5 cases (16%) of chronic subdural hematoma in postoperative follow up CT scans. In 5 cases among the former, ventriculoperitonial shunt was done, and in 3 cases among the latter, burr hole evacuation was performed. Therefore, the postoperative course of TSH should require careful observation by CT scan and so on.     

Clinical application of magnetic resonance in acute traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI): to identify the type, quantity, severity; and improvement clinical-radiological correlation. METHOD: Assessment of 55 patients who were imaged using CT and MRI, 34 (61.8%) males and 21 (38.2%) females, with acute (0 to 5 days) and closed TBI. RESULTS: Statistical significant differences (McNemar test): ocurred fractures were detected by CT in 29.1% and by MRI in 3.6% of the patients; subdural hematoma by CT in 10.9% and MRI in 36.4 %; diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by CT in 1.8% and MRI in 50.9%; cortical contusions by CT in 9.1% and MRI in 41.8%; subarachnoid hemorrhage by CT in 18.2% and MRI in 41.8%. CONCLUSION: MRI was superior to the CT in the identification of DAI, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cortical contusions, and acute subdural hematoma; however it was inferior in diagnosing fractures. The detection of DAI was associated with the severity of acute TBI.     

Bilateral chronic subdural hematoma in a young adult mimicking subarachnoid hemorrhage]

A 33-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a sudden severe headache five days after the onset CT scan showed a slight high-density area in the basal cistern, mimicking subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and diffuse brain swelling. However, conventional cerebral angiography and CT angiography failed to demonstrate aneurysms and vascular malformations. MRI showed bilateral subdural hematoma, but no SAH. Irrigation of liquefied subdural hematoma, causing high intracranial pressure, was carried out. Postoperative course was uneventful and his headache resolved within a day. The author presented a case of bilateral chronic subdural hematoma who presented with a sudden severe headache mimicking a SAH. Hyper attenuation in the basal cistern and subarachnoid space in CT, don't always indicate SAH. MRI, including fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, is useful in differentiating the "pseudo" SAH from "true" SAH, and lead to the right diagnosis.     

Mild hypothermia for hemispheric cerebral infarction after evacuation of an acute subdural hematoma in an infant

The use of mild hypothermia to treat hemispheric infarction after evacuation of an acute subdural hematoma in an infant is reported. The patient, a 2-year-old boy, presented with a deteriorating level of consciousness after a fall from a tree. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an acute subdural hematoma on the right side with marked midline shift, and emergency evacuation of the hematoma was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful until the patient's intracranial pressure (ICP) rose and his condition deteriorated 3 days after surgery. CT scan revealed a hemispheric infarction on the injured side. Mild hypothermia was induced to control the ICP and protect the brain. While the hypothermia was effective in lowering the elevated ICP, it failed to arrest progression of the infarction. The patient was discharged with mild disability 2 months after the injury. No serious complications occurred during or after the hypothermia. Our experience indicates that hypothermia can be a useful procedure for controlling the ICP in children with severe traumatic brain injury including acute subdural hematoma, although its capability to protect the brain from severe, progressive ischemia appears to be limited.     

外伤性慢性硬脑膜下血肿发生机理探讨

目的：探讨慢性硬脑膜下血肿（CSDH）的发生机理，方法：对我科1997年至1999年治疗的17例急性硬脑膜下血肿（ASDH），11例CSDH及9例硬脑膜下积液病人进行观察分析，结果：17例ASDH非手术治疗后无1例发展成为CSDH，9例硬脑膜下积液有2例发展成为CSDH，1例发展为张力性硬脑膜下积液。11例CSDH病人中，在第一次外伤后72h内头部CT示6例硬脑膜下积液，4例脑挫伤，1例无特殊显示，无一例为硬膜下血肿，结论：CSDH的发生可能与硬脑膜下积液有密切关系。     

185例小儿外伤性颅内出血的临床分析

目的探讨小儿外伤性颅内出血的临床特点。方法将我院神经外科住院治疗的185例小儿外伤性颅内出血的临床资料进行分析和总结。硬膜外血肿为68例,硬膜下血肿37例,脑挫裂伤75例,脑内血肿3例,外伤性蛛网膜下腔出血2例。颅内出血患儿14例出现抽搐,149例有颅骨骨折,12例脑梗塞,5例脑积水,32例出现贫血。结果 47例行手术治疗,3例死亡,死亡率为1.62%。结论小儿脑出血发展迅速,应密切观察病情,及时做出诊断进行治疗,可有效地降低致残率和死亡率。     

外伤性硬膜下积液在向慢性硬膜下血肿转化过程中的相关因素配对回归分析

目的 回顾性研究外伤性硬膜下积液向慢性硬膜下血肿(CSDH)转化过程中相关因素的影响.方法 对22例慢性硬膜下血肿中明确有外伤性硬膜下积液(TSE)的患者根据性别、年龄、职业配对单纯外伤性硬膜下积液的患者(1∶2配对,共44例).多因素回归分析外伤性硬膜下积液转化为慢性硬膜下血肿组与单纯外伤性硬膜下积液组间在硬膜下积液CT值、积液部位、积液体积、凝血功能4种相关因素间有无差异.结果 外伤性硬膜下积液转化为慢性硬膜下血肿组与单纯外伤性硬膜下积液组间患者的伤后硬膜下积液CT值、积液部位间差异存在统计学意义.结论 外伤性硬膜下积液存在向慢性硬膜下血肿转化的趋势,患者硬膜下积液的CT值相对较高、积液位于额颞部患者这一趋势尤为明显.     

Chronic subdural hematoma after endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a case report and literature review

Chronic subdural hematoma is a very rarely observed complication after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). A 21-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with complaining of headache, weakness and tremor. The fundoscopic examination revealed slightly indistinct border of the papilla and neurological examination findings were normal. The cranial computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings demonstrated three-ventricular hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis and ETV was performed. The symptoms got better after the operation. At 1? month postoperatively the patient reapplied to our clinic with a symptom of severe headache. Cranial BT imaging demonstrated enlargement of subdural hematoma. The hematoma was treated by burr-hole evacuation and drainage and totally disappeared in the postoperative period. The follow-up CT scan was evaluated as normal. Nowadays, ETV is accepted as a safe and an alternative method for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus instead of shunt operation. Chronic subdural hematoma is a rarely observed complication after ETV.     

Traumatic acute subdural hygroma mimicking acute subdural hematoma.

Subdural hygroma is a frequent delayed complication of head trauma. Most hygromas are clinically 'silent' and a few cases have shown slow deterioration in the chronic stage. We report a case of subdural hygroma showing unique radiological findings and rapid deterioration. A 74-years-old female presented with a mild headache and consciousness disturbance after head injury. Computed tomography showed a midline shift as a result of two components piling up in the subdural space; the outer components showed low density, the inner components high density. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that these two subdural components were subdural hygroma and subarachnoid hematoma. Simple burr hole irrigation, rather than large craniotomy, was thought to be more appropriate treatment to reduce the mass effect. Simple burr hole irrigation was performed to remove the subdural hygroma and the patient showed an excellent recovery. Careful examination of the radiological findings prevented an unnecessary procedure in this case. A possible mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.     

Traumatic subdural effusions in children following minor head injury

Aim  There is considerable disparity in literature as regards to the presentation of subdural fluid collections in children. In this report, the authors have tried to establish the clinical and radiographic criteria to define the subdural effusions (SDEs) in children following minor head injury. Methods  Twenty cases of traumatic SDEs following minor head injury were studied prospectively. The age of these children ranged from 1 month to 2 years with an average of 9 months. The duration from the onset of first symptom to presentation in our outpatient department varied from 1 month to 13 months with a mean of 4.2 months. The duration of follow-up was 6 months to 2 years with an average of 10 months. Results  Fourteen out of 20 (70%) children presented with subtle findings. Six out of 20 (30%) children presented with overt neurological signs and symptoms. Seizures were the most common mode of presentation in this group. Bilaterality and ventriculomegaly were more common in the subtle group, each with an incidence of 43%. Seven out of 20 (35%) cases required operative management of traumatic SDEs. Recurrence was seen in two of 20 (10%) cases who had been conservatively managed previously. Only one child showed conversion of traumatic subdural hygroma to chronic subdural hematoma on conservative management. Conclusion  Traumatic SDEs in children following minor head injury need to be differentiated from other causes of subdural fluid collections in children. The clinical and radiological criteria proposed by us helps to identify this subset of cases in most of the children.     

Infantile head injury, with special reference to the development of chronic subdural hematoma

An infantile head injury has unique features in that infants are totally helpless and dependent on their parents, and biomechanical characteristics of the skull and brain are very different from those of other age groups. The authors reviewed a total of 16 infant head injury patients under 12 months of age who were treated in our hospital from 1989 to 1997. Birth head injury was excluded. The most common age group was 3–5 months. Early seizures were noted in 7 cases, and motor weakness in 6. Three patients with acute intracranial hematoma and another 3 with depressed skull fracture were operated on soon after admission. Chronic subdural hematomas (SDHs) developed in 3 infants. Initial CT scans showed a small amount of SDH that needed no emergency operation. Resolution of the acute SDH and development of subdural hygroma appeared on follow-up CT scans within 2 weeks of injury. Two of these infants developed early seizures. Chronic SDH was diagnosed on the 68th and 111th days after the injuries were sustained, respectively. The third patient was the subject of close follow-up with special attention to the evolution of chronic SDH in view of our experience in the previous 2 cases, and was found to have developed chronic SDH on the 90th day after injury. All chronic SDH patients were successively treated by subduro-peritoneal shunting. In conclusion, the evolution of chronic SDH from acute SDH is relatively common following infantile head injury. Infants with head injuries, especially if they are associated with acute SDH and early development of subdural hygroma, should be carefully followed up with special attention to the possible development of chronic SDH Received: 5 November 1999 Revised: 15 January 2000     

外伤性急性硬膜下血肿的预后因素探讨

目的探讨影响外伤性急性硬膜下血肿(ASDH)预后的因素。方法术后3个月,113例外伤性急性硬膜下血肿病人分为预后良好组(F组)和预后不良组(non-F组),对其术前资料进行回顾性分析比较。结果F组的年龄低于non—F组(P<0.05),GCS评分低于后者(P<0.01);瞳孔光反射阳性率和中脑周围池开放率高于后者(P<0.05).而伴随的脑挫伤、脑内血肿,蛛网膜下腔出血的发生率(P<0.05)及中线移位程度(P<0.01)低于后者。结论年龄、GCS评分、瞳孔对光反射和中脑周围池形态、中线移位程度及伴随颅内损伤的复杂、严重程度与ASDH病人预后有关,而瞳孔变化和CT影像学所提示的征象是反映ASDH病人预后的最为重要的因素。     

Acute-on-Chronic Subdural Hematoma: Not Uncommon Events

Objective

Patients with asymptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) are prone to fall or slip. Acute trauma on these patients may develop acute subdural bleeding over the chronic SDH. We recently experienced 9 patients with acute-on-chronic SDH. We report the clinical and radiological features of this lesion.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the computed tomographic (CT) scans of 107 consecutive patients who diagnosed as chronic SDH from January 2008 to December 2010. All cases of CSDH were diagnosed on CT with or without MRI scan.

Results

Acute-on-chronic SDH is not rare, being 8% of chronic SDH. The most common cause of trauma was a slip in drunken state. Alcoholism with multiple episodes of trauma was one of the prominent histories. Acute-on-chronic SDH appeared as a hyperdense layer of clot with irregular blurred margin or lumps in liquefied hematoma. Single or two burr holes was usually effective to remove the hematoma.

Conclusion

Repeated trauma may cause acute bleeding over the chronic SDH. It will be helpful to understand the role of repeated trauma as a mechanism of hematoma enlargement.     

A case of organized chronic subdural hematoma presented with transient neurologic deficits]

A 59-year-old diabetic male presented with transient motor aphasia and monoparesis of the right upper limb. Brain CT scan showed a low density area in the left subdural space with a mild midline shift. Magnetic resonance (MR) T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imagings revealed homogenous hyperintensity with a hypointense web-like structure in the subdural hematoma. Cervical MR angiography showed no abnormal lesion at the bifurcation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. Conventional cerebral angiography showed an avascular, crescent, space-occupying mass over the left hemisphere without an etiologic lesion of cerebral ischemia. CT perfusion imagings indicated reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and prolonged mean transit time (MTT) in the left middle cerebral artery territory underneath the subdural hematoma. No epileptic discharge was found in electroencephalogram. Operative findings indicated that the hematoma was encapsulated with thickened outer and inner membranes including paste-like materials, and the brain surface was intact. Postoperative CT perfusion imagings revealed normal CBF and MTT. The pathophysiological mechanism which the chronic subdural hematoma produces the transient neurological deficit is still uncertain. The mechanical pressure of the hematoma on the neighboring cerebral vessels may cause impairment of blood flow leading to cerebral ischemia and paralysis of function. Our case indicated the transient neurological deficits attributed to a decreased CBF around the subdural hematoma and a change in pressure exerted by the hematoma during changes of head position and increased blood viscosity.     

Chronic subdural hematoma preceded by traumatic subdural hygroma

Patients with traumatic subdural hygroma (SDG) are at an increased risk of developing chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, the mechanism by which this occurs is still not fully understood. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of CSDH, as well as the relationship between CSDH and SDG. We review the pertinent literature and retrospectively examine a series of cases in which CSDH had been preceded by SDG to understand the natural history and developmental mechanisms of these lesions. We discuss the cases of 24 patients in whom CSDH developed from traumatic SDG between 2001 and 2005. Headache was the most common symptom, and the mean Glasgow Coma Scale score was 14.1. Increases in SDG volume were observed in CT scans of 17 patients, and increased density and volume was observed in five patients. The mean interval between the two diseases was 57.6 days, and 13 patients developed new symptoms after the development of CSDH. The most common symptoms at that time were headache and hemiparesis. All patients underwent an operation, which resulted in good recovery in all but one case. The cycle of persistent SDG, rebleeding, coagulation and fibrinolysis contributes to the development of CSDH from SDG. It is important to understand the natural history of CSDH and carefully follow up patients with head injury, especially if it is associated with SDG, and the potential for the development of CSDH should be considered.     

颅脑外伤去骨瓣减压术后继发硬膜下积液的危险因素分析

目的分析颅脑外伤去骨瓣减压术后继发性硬膜下积液的危险因素。方法回顾性分析我院2014年1月至2016年6月间的138例颅脑外伤去骨瓣减压术患者的临床资料和影像学资料。根据术后是否发生硬膜下积液分为积液组和非积液组,通过单因素t检验、卡方检验和多因素Logistic回归分析总结颅脑外伤去骨瓣减压术后发生硬膜下积液的影响因素。结果 138例患者中,85例患者发生硬膜下积液,发生率为61.6%。单因素分析结果显示两组患者在性别、年龄、术前GCS评分、环池受压、术前是否合并脑疝、硬膜外血肿、脑内血肿、脑室内出血、蛛网膜下腔出血、骨瓣的前后径大小、骨瓣的最高径大小、去骨瓣减压的侧别均无统计学意义(p0.05)。去骨瓣减压术后硬膜下积液和中线移位大于5 mm、皮层切开、硬膜下血肿、骨瓣边缘距中线距离小于2 mm有明显关联。多因素分析结果显示只有中线移位大于5 mm和皮层切开是危险因素。结论颅脑外伤去骨瓣减压术后继发性硬膜下积液和中线移位大于5mm、皮层切开有明显关联,应引起重视。