title: Chronic subdural hematoma: a comparison of recurrence rates following burr-hole craniostomy with and without drains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the rates of recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma following surgical evacuation by one of two methods, namely, using frontal and parietal burr holes without a drain or a single parietal burr hole with the addition of a subdural drain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized controlled trial with two groups of 70 patients each. Patients in group I had two burr holes and those in group II had a single burr-hole. A subdural drain was placed for the second group, and this was removed 48-72 hours later. Patients were followed up for 3 months and symptomatic recurrences underwent re-exploration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  11 out of 70 patients in group I had recurrent hematomas requiring surgery while only two out of 70 patients in group II had symptomatic recurrences. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.0168).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a single burr hole with drain appears to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma.
authors: Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Neurological Sciences, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors: Shankar Ayyappan
authors: SA
authors: Kutty
authors: Mishal
authors: M
authors: Johny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D014207:Trephining