Acute Epidural and Subdural Hematomas After Head Injury: Clinical Distinguishing Features

Abstract

AbstractHead injury remains the most common cause of death and disability in young people. The most frequent consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are extra-axial hemorrhage, i.e., an acute subdural hematoma (SDH) and epidural hematoma (EDH), which usually require a surgical treatment. The aim of the study is to present the distinguished clinical features associated with patients being surgically treated for post-traumatic EDH and SDH. The study included a group of 128 patients with isolated craniocerebral injuries. All the patients were operated. The following factors from the groups were analyzed: demographic data, physiological factors, laboratory factors, computed tomography scan characteristics, the time between trauma and surgery, and the in-hospital mortality. Using statistical analysis, we compared the studied factors in patients operated on due to EDH and SDH. Patients with SDH were older than patients with EDH. Most often, extra-axial hematomas affected men. Patients with SDH were more severe condition than patients with EDH on admission. Abnormal systolic blood pressure was the most common manifestation of dysautonomia in both groups. In the SDH group, we observed hypotension more often than hypertension. Hyperglycemia was one of the most common anomalies in laboratory factors in both groups. Hypotension and hyperglycemia were that factors significantly associated with outcome after head injuries. SDH caused greater midline shift and often pressed in basal cisterns. Patients with SDH died more often than patients with EDH.