• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.390-393
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• 2009

Although prompt diagnosis and emergent surgical intervention are important in acute spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH), some cases with spontaneous remission of symptom and hematoma without surgery have been reported. We present a case of acute nontraumatic SSDH presenting with transient left hemiplegia for 4 hours. A magnetic resonance imaging study of cervical spine confirmed SSDH with C3-6 cervical cord compression at the left side. The patient had conservative management without recurrence. Although hemiplegia is an unusual clinical manifestation of SSDH, it should be differentiated from that of cerebrovascular origin promptly. Conservative management may be an alternative therapeutic option for selective cases with transient neurological deficits.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2013

Objective : The objectives of the present study were to characterize the natural course of initially non-operated traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and to identify the risk factors of hematoma progression. Methods : Retrospective analysis was performed using sequential computed tomography (CT) images maintained in a prospective observational database containing 177 ASDH cases treated from 2005 to 2011. Patients were allocated to four groups as followings; 136 (76.8%) patients to the spontaneous resolution group, 12 (6.8%) who underwent operation between 4 hours and 7 days to the rapid worsening group (RWG), 24 (13.6%) who experienced an increase of hematoma and that underwent operation between 7 and 28 days to the subacute worsening group (SWG), and 5 (2.8%) who developed delayed aggravation requiring surgery from one month after onset to the delayed worsening group (DWG). Groups were compared with respect to various factors. Results : No significant intergroup difference was found with respect to age, mechanism of injury, or initial Glasgow Coma Scale. The presence of combined cerebral contusion or subarachnoid hemorrhage was found to be a significant prognostic factor. Regarding CT findings, mixed density was common in the RWG and the SWG. Midline shifting, hematoma thickness, and numbers of CT slices containing hematoma were significant prognostic factors of the RWG and the SWG. Brain atrophy was more severe in the SWG and the DWG. Conclusion : A large proportion of initially non-operated ASDHs worsen in the acute or subacute phase. Patients with risk factors should be monitored carefully for progression by repeat CT imaging.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.226-228
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• 2013

Elderly patients with acute subdural hematomas have higher mortality and lower functional recovery rates compared with those of other head-injured patients. Early and widely surgical decompression and active intensive care represent the best way to assist these patients. However, abrupt decompression of the hematoma can lead to brain disruption and secondary ischemia in the brain surrounding the craniectomy site. Acute brain swelling and brain extrusion, which take place shortly after decompression, can lead to a catastrophic situation during the operation due to the impossibility of appropriate closure of the dura and scalp. To avoid the deleterious consequences of disruption of brain tissue, we have adopted multiple fenestrations of the dura in a mesh-like fashion and gradual release of subdural clots through the small dural openings that are left open. This is especially important in cases in which there are massive amount of subdural hematomas with small parenchymal lesion and severe midline shifts in elderly patients. Further clinical experiences should be conducted in a more selected series patients to estimate the impact of this technique on morbidity and mortality rates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliable factors influencing the surgical outcome of the patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and to improve the functional outcome of these patients. Methods : A total of 256 consecutive patients who underwent surgical intervention for traumatic ASDH between March 1998 and March 2008 were reviewed. We evaluated the influence of perioperative variables on functional recovery and mortality using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results : Functional recovery was achieved in 42.2% of patients and the overall mortality was 39.8%. Age (OR=4.91, p=0.002), mechanism of injury (OR=3.66, p=0.003), pupillary abnormality (OR=3.73, p=0.003), GCS score on admission (OR=5.64, p=0.000), and intraoperative acute brain swelling (ABS) (OR=3.71, p=0.009) were independent predictors for functional recovery. And preoperative pupillary abnormality (OR=2.60, p=0.023), GCS score (OR=4.66, p=0.000), and intraoperative ABS (OR=4.16, p=0.001) were independent predictors for mortality. Midline shift, thickness and volume of hematoma, type of surgery, and time to surgery showed no independent association with functional recovery, although these variables were correlated with functional recovery in univariate analyses. Conclusion : Functional recovery was more likely to be achieved in patients who were under 40 years of age, victims of motor vehicle collision and having preoperative reactive pupils, higher GCS score and the absence of ABS during surgery. These results would be helpful for neurosurgeon to improve outcomes from traumatic acute subdural hematomas.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.483-486
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• 2015

Cervical epidural steroid injection is frequently used in the conservative management of neck pain and cervical radiculopathy. Epidural cervical transforaminal injections are usually well-tolerated with mild side effects such as transient decreased sensory and motor function, or headache due to dural puncture. Although there are a few case reports about adverse effects of cervical epidural injection in the literature, it can cause severe complications such as large hematoma, infarction by spinal vascular injury. Subdural hematoma has been occurred much less common rather than epidural hematoma in the spinal cord. We report a rare catastrophic case of cervical spinal subdural hematoma with quadriparesis after cervical transforaminal epidural block.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.467-469
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• 2010

We report an extremely rare case of traumatic cervical spinal subdural hematoma not related to intracranial injury. There has been no report on traumatic cervical spinal subdrual hematoma not related to intracranial injury. A 27-year-old female patient was admitted to our emergency room due to severe neck pain and right arm motor weakness after car collision. On admission, she presented with complete monoplegia and hypoesthesia of right arm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed subdural hematoma compressing spinal cord. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed 210,000 red blood cells/$mm^3$. She was managed conservatively by administrations of steroid pulse therapy and CSF drainage. Her muscle power of right arm improved to a Grade III 16 days after admission. Follow-up MRI taken 16th days after admission revealed almost complete resolution of the hematoma. Here, the authors report a traumatic cervical spinal SDH not associated with intracranial injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.375-379
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• 2005

Rarely, rupture of a cerebral aneurysm causes an acute subdural hematoma(SDH) in addition to subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). We report clinical and radiological characteristics of five cases, as well as potential pitfalls in the diagnosis and the treatment of this life-threatening condition. The patients ranged in age from 42 to 76 years. The Hunt-Hess grade on admission was grade III in one patient, grade IV in two, and grade V in two. All five patients un-derwent one-stage operation (both SDH evacuation and clipping of the aneurysm). The outcome was good recovery in two patients, persistent vegetative state in two, and death in one. Patients with a good outcome had a better Hunt-Hess grade on admission, with less amount of SDH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.441-444
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• 2006

Objective : The goal of this study is to evaluate the clinical results in six patients who underwent surgical decompression for the acute subdural hematomas[ASDH] of posterior cranial fossa. Methods : Six patients [five males and one female] who had undergone surgery for ASDH of posterior cranial fossa between 2000 and 2005, were evaluated retrospectively with regard to clinicoradiological findings and surgical outcomes. The mean age was 45.8 years [range $9{\sim}67\;years$]. Results : Preoperative computed tomography showed ASDH on cerebellar hemisphere in four patients and on midline in two. All patients had the associated lesions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural or subdural hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, contusion or pneumocephalus in supratentorial area. Fracture of occipital bone was noted in two patients. Of the four patients who had 13 to 15 of Glasgow coma scale score at the time of admission, three were deteriorated within 24 hours after trauma. Of these three patients, delayed subdural hematoma developed 1 hour after initial normal CT finding in one patient and increased in thickness in another one. Postoperative outcome showed good recovery in three patients and moderate disability in one. Two patients were expired. Conclusion : This study supports that early diagnosis based on strict observation and prompt surgery in the patients with ASDH in posterior fossa will lead to the best results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Chronic subdural hematomas (CSHs) are generally regarded to be a traumatic lesion. It was regarded as a stroke in 17th century, an inflammatory disease in 19th century. From 20th century, it became a traumatic lesion. CSH frequently occur after a trauma, however, it cannot occur when there is no enough subdural space even after a severe head injury. CSH may occur without trauma, when there is sufficient subdural space. The author tried to investigate trends in the causation of CSH. By a review of literature, the author suggested a different view on the causation of CSH. CSH usually originated from either a subdural hygroma or an acute subdural hematoma. Development of CSH starts from the separation of the dural border cell (DBC) layer, which induces proliferation of DBCs with production of neomembrane. Capillaries will follow along the neomembrane. Hemorrhage would occur into the subdural fluid either by tearing of bridge veins or repeated microhemorrhage from the neomembrane. That is the mechanism of hematoma enlargement. Trauma or bleeding tendency may precipitate development of CSH, however, it cannot lead CSH, if there is no sufficient subdural space. The key determinant for development of CSH is a sufficient subdural space, in other words, brain atrophy. The most common and universal cause of brain atrophy is the aging. Modifying Virchow's description, CSH is sometimes traumatic, but most often caused by degeneration of the brain. Now, it is reasonable that degeneration of brain might play pivotal role in development of CSH in the aged persons.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.397-400
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• 2015

The simultaneous occurrence of an intracranial and a spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) is rare. We describe a case of cranial SDH with a simultaneous spinal SDH. An 82-year-old woman visited the emergency room because of drowsiness and not being able to walk 6 weeks after falling down. A neurological examination showed a drowsy mentality. Brain computed tomography showed bilateral chronic SDH with an acute component. The patient underwent an emergency burr-hole trephination and hematoma removal. She exhibited good recovery after the operation. On the fourth postoperative day, she complained of low-back pain radiating to both lower limbs, and subjective weakness of the lower limbs. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracolumbosacral SDH. A follow-up spinal magnetic resonance imaging study that was performed 16 days later showed a significant decrease in the size of the spinal SDH. We discuss the pathogenesis of this simultaneous occurrence of spinal and cranial SDH.