The pathogenesis and fate of traumatic subdural hygroma.
We present a series of 61 traumatic subdural hygromas, and discuss the pathogenic mechanisms and natural history of this condition. It commonly occurred in patients over 50 years of age and before 5 years of age. Fifty-two cases (85.2%) were diagnosed 3 days after head injury. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on admission was 3-8 in 24 (39.3%), 9-12 in 15 (24.6%) and 13-15 in 22 patients (36.1%). Although three patients (4.9%) showed slow deterioration, most hygromas were clinically 'silent'. Thirty-eight patients (62.3%) were managed conservatively and 23 patients (37.7%) underwent surgery. Only five patients (21.7%) showed gross improvement after surgery, even though surgery was performed only for enlarged hygromas shown by serial computed tomography. In five patients (8.2%), a chronic subdural haematoma subsequently developed from a hygroma. A favourable outcome (good recovery or moderate disability) occurred in 59%, an unfavourable outcome (severe disability and vegetative state) in 28%, and death resulted in 13%. Outcome was closely related to the severity of primary head injury.
Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University, Chonan Hospital, South Korea.
K S
KS
Lee
W K
WK
Bae
Y T
YT
Park
I G
IG
Yun
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome