Spectrophotometry of the CSF (CSF-SPE) and computer tomography (CT) in traumatic head injuries

Combined examinations with quantitative CSF spectrophotometry (CSF-SPE) and computer tomography (CT) were performed on 53 patients with traumatic head injuries. In cerebral concussion the results were mainly normal in both examinations. In cerebral contusion bleeding patterns were found by CSF-SPE in all subjects, with a special bleeding pattern (S2 pattern) occurring in 86%. CT showed findings described as typical for contusion in 8 of 14 examined patients, the remaining CT scans showing questionable or normal signs. In extra- and intracerebral haematomas, all patients had bleeding patterns on the CSF-SPE. A special bleeding component (H factor) was found in about 72%. The H component was not observed during the first 3 to 4 days after the trauma. All but one patient examined later than the 4th day had an H component with or without an S-pattern. CT demonstrated a haematoma in 14 of 18 verified haematoma patients, while 4 subjects with subdural haematoma (e.g. one third of this patient group) had questionable CT findings.The combined examinations with CT and CSF-SPE, being complementary to each other, are of great value in the differential diagnosis of traumatic head injuries.