Conservative Management of Large Vertex Extradural Hematoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Vertex extradural hematomas may be missed when axial section brain computed tomographic scans are used alone for diagnosis. Conservative treatment may be preferred in such patients when actualized the essential conditions. A 24-year-old mentally retarded male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a history of falling from the same level and head trauma. Neurological examination and axial cross-sectional brain computed tomography performed in the emergency room were evaluated as normal, and the patient was discharged. Vertex extradural hematoma adjacent to the bone fracture was diagnosed with axial, coronal and sagittal reconstructed brain computerized tomography sections of the patient who came back with headache complaint 2 days later. Despite the difficulties in neurological examination due to mental retardation, surgical treatment was not planned with very close neurological examination. The patient was followed up in the neurosurgery intensive care unit for 2 days and in the neurosurgery service for 7 days. He was discharged because there was no abnormality in his neurological follow-ups and no increase in hematoma size. In the first outpatient follow-up, one month later, the hematoma was completely resorbed. The patient was treated conservatively with close conscious and neurological examination follow-up. In order not to miss vertex extradural hematomas in the brain computed tomography performed in patients presenting to the emergency department with head trauma, coronal and sagittal sections should be reconstructed in addition to axial sections. Conservative treatment can be preferred if vertex extradural hematomas are neurological examined closely, no motor deficits and there is no increase in hematoma size in control imaging.