title: Chronic subdural haematoma--a comparison of two different treatment modalities.
abstract: Burr-hole craniotomy (BHC) and closed-system drainage undoubtedly is currently the most accepted treatment offered in chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH). Although twist-drill trephination (TDT) techniques have been available for years, now a special subdural catheter kit has been launched for treatment of CSDH. In a prospective study, 33 patients with 36 CSDH were treated with a 5-mm TDT regimen and insertion of a CORDIS subdural catheter (CORDIS Corp., Miami, USA). The results are compared with a consecutive series of 33 patients treated previously with an 11-mm BHC and closed-system drainage for 40 CSDH: Recurrence and persistence rate of CSDH treated with TDT necessitating a second intervention was 18.1%, no further surgical intervention was necessary. In BHC treated patients, 33.3% of haematomas had to be reoperated on, another 6.0% had to be re-operated on a third time. Infection rate in BHC treated patients was 18.1% as compared with a 0% infection rate in patients treated with the TDT technique. Mortality rate for the BHC method was 9.0% as compared with 6.0% in the TDT treatment regimen. Significantly better clinical results are achieved using the TDT technique with insertion of a special subdural catheter, making this procedure superior to the BHC regimen.
authors.affiliation: Neurochirurgische Universitätsklinik, Neurozentrum, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smely
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madlinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheremet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome