title: Posterior fossa epidural hematomas: a review and synthesis.
abstract: The authors report three patients with posterior fossa epidural hematomas and analyze 80 additional cases in the accessible literature. They occur in the younger age groups with a clear male predominance (3.6 to 1). The loss of consciousness at the time of impact and just before surgical intervention have both proved to be factors indicating a poor prognosis. The clinical symptoms and signs were classified in three general types: increased intracranial pressure, brainstem dysfunction, and cerebellar disturbances. A fracture of the occipital bone was seen in 84.2% of the patients. The source of bleeding often remained undetermined, although a tear of the dural sinuses was a most frequent finding. An associated intracranial lesion was found in 39.7% of the cases, this being another factor indicating a poor prognosis. The overall mortality was 26.5%, while the surgical mortality was only 11.5%. Excellent results were achieved in 65% of the cases.
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed