• 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.50 no.3
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• pp.268-270
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• 2011

Spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) is an extremely uncommon condition. Causative factors include trauma, anticoagulant drug administration, hemostatic disorders, and vascular disorders such as arteriovenous malformations and lumbar punctures. Of SSDH cases, those that do not have any traumatic event can be considered cases of nontraumatic acute spinal subdural hematoma, which is known to have diverse clinical progress. Treatment typically consists of surgical decompression and cases in which the condition is relieved with conservative treatment are rarely reported. We report two nontraumatic acute spinal subdural hematoma patients who were successfully treated without surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.373-376
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• 2011

We report a case of a non traumatic spinal subdural hematoma or subarachnoid hematoma manifesting as lumbago, leg pain and bladder dysfunction that showed angiographically occult vascular malformation (AOVM). Although the spinal angiogram did not reveal any vascular abnormality, the follow-up magnetic resonance image showed AOVM. Complete surgical removal was performed due to the aggravated bladder dysfunction. This case highlights the need to consider bleeding due to spinal AOVM, even when angiography is negative.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2012

Purpose: Traumatic pancreatic injury is not common in abdominal trauma injury. However, the morbidity and the mortality rates of patients with pancreatic injury, which are related with difficulties of initial assessment, establishment of diagnosis, and treatment are relatively high. The aim of this study is to review our institution's experience and suggest a diagnosis and therapeutic algorithm for use in cases involving traumatic pancreatic injury. Methods: Eighteen(18) patients with blunt pancreatic injury from January, 2004 to October 2012 were included in this study. We analyzed treatment and diagnosis method, other organ injury, treatment interval, hospital stay and complications retrospectively. Results: Nine patients were treated with conservative medication and another nine patients were treated surgically. Complications occurred in nine patients, and one patient died due to intraventricular hemorrhage and subdural hemorrhage with multiple organ failure. Delayed surgery was performed in three cases. The early and delayed surgery groups showed difference in hospital stay and intensive care unit stay. Delayed surgery was associated with a longer hospital stay (p=0.007) than immediate surgery. Conclusion: In blunt pancreatic trauma, proper early diagnosis and prompt treatment are recommended necessity. Based on this review of our experience, we also suggest the adoption of our institution's algorithm for cases involving traumatic pancreatic injury.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.423-427
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• 2014

Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) are rare phenomenon, which are usually associated with head trauma such as an underlying skull fracture. They were usually known to cause acute or delayed epidural hematomas but can be associated with subdural, subarachnoid, or even intracerebral hemorrhage. Sometimes, a high mortality rate was reported in these circumferences. But the natural course of these pseudoaneurysms is not well recognized. The indication and guideline of treatment for pseudoaneurysm are also unclear. This report describes a rare case of angiographically progressive change of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the middle meningeal artery for one week, which was treated with endovascular embolization.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2010

Purpose: In this study, patients in whom two computed tomography (CT) scans had been obtained within 24 hours of injury were analyzed to determine the incidence, risk factors and clinical significance of a progressive intracerebral hematoma (PIH). Methods: Participants were 182 patients with a traumatic intracerebral hematoma and contusion who underwent a repeat CT scan within 24 hours of injury. Univarite and multivariate statistics were used to define growth (volume increase) and to examine the relationship between the risk factors and hemorrhage expansion. Results: Fifty-four percent of the patients experienced progression in the size of the lesion in the initial 24 hours postinjury. A PIH was independently associated with worsened Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score (2.99, 1.04~8.60), the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.29, 2.48~16.00), the presence of a subdural hematoma (6.18, 2.13~17.98), the presence of an epidural hematoma (5.73, 1.18~27.76), and the presence of a basal cistern effacement (10.93, 1.19~99.57). Conclusion: For patients undergoing scanning within 2 hours of injury, the rate of PIH approaches 61%. Early repeated CT scanning is indicated in patients with a nonsurgically-treated hemorrhage revealed on the first CT scan. Worsened GCS score, significant hematoma growth and effacement of the basal cisterns on the initial CT scan are powerful predictors of which patients will require surgery. These findings should be important factors in understanding and managing of PIH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.547-549
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• 2015

Acute subdural hematoma (SDH) of arterial origin is rare, especially SDH associated with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is extremely rare. The authors report a case of acute spontaneous SDH due to rupture of a tiny cortical AVM. A 51-year-old male presented with sudden onset headache and mentality deterioration without a history of trauma. Brain CT revealed a large volume acute SDH compressing the right cerebral hemisphere with subfalcine and tentorial herniation. Emergency decompressive craniectomy was performed to remove the hematoma and during surgery a small (5 mm sized) conglomerated aciniform mass with two surrounding enlarged vessels was identified on the parietal cortex. After warm saline irrigation of the mass, active bleeding developed from a one of the vessel. The bleeding was stopped by coagulation and the vessels were removed. Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion as an AVM. We concluded that a small cortical AVM existed at this area, and that the cortical AVM had caused the acute SDH. Follow up conventional angiography confirmed the absence of remnant AVM or any other vascular abnormality. This report demonstrates rupture of a cortical AVM is worth considering when a patient presents with non-traumatic SDH without intracerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• 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 Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.355-358
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• 2011

Objective : Subdural hygroma (SDG) is a complication occurring after head trauma that may occur secondary to decompressive craniectomy (DC). However, the mechanism underlying SDG formation is not fully understood. Also, the relationship between the operative technique of DC or the decompressive effect and the occurrence and pathophysiology of SDG has not been clarified. Purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of SDG after DC in our series. Methods : From January 2004 to December 2008, DC was performed in 85 patients who suffered from traumatic brain injury. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features. For comparative analysis, we divided the patients into 2 groups : one group with SDG after craniectomy (19 patients; 28.4% of the total sample), the other group without SDG (48 patients; 71.6%). The risk factors for developing SDG were then analyzed. Results : The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores at discharge of the groups with and without SDG were 2.8 and 3.1, respectively (p<0.0001). Analysis of radiological factors showed that a midline shift in excess of 5 mm on CT scans was present in 19 patients (100%) in the group with SDG and in 32 patients (66.7%) in the group without SDG (p<0.05). An accompanying subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was seen in 17 patients (89.5%) in the group with SDG and in 29 patients (60.4%) in the group without SDG (p<0.05). Delayed hydrocephalus accompanied these findings in 10 patients (52.6%) in the group with SDG, versus 5 patients (10.4%) in the group without SDG (p<0.05). On CT, compression of basal cisterns was observed in 14 members (73.7%) in the group with SDG and in 18 members of the group without SDG (37.5%) (p<0.007). Furthermore, tearing of the arachnoid membrane, as observed on CT, was more common in all patients in the group with SDG (100%) than in the group without SDG (31 patients; 64.6%) (p<0.05). Conclusion : GOS showed statistically significant difference in the clinical risk factors for SDG between the group with SDG and the group without SDG. Analysis of radiological factors indicated that a midline shifting exceeding 5 mm, SAH, delayed hydrocephalus, compression of basal cisterns, and tearing of the arachnoid membrane were significantly more common in patients with SDG.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2015

Objective : The present study aims to investigate 1) the risk factors for hydrocephalus and subdural hygroma (SDG) occurring after decompressive craniectomy (DC), and 2) the association between the type of SDG and hydrocephalus. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 92 patients who underwent DC procedures after severe head injuries. The risk factors for developing post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) and SDG were analyzed. Types of SDGs were classified according to location and their relationship with hydrocephalus was investigated. Results : Ultimately, 26.09% (24/92) of these patients developed PTH. In the univariate analyses, hydrocephalus was statically associated with large bone flap diameter, large craniectomy area, bilateral craniectomy, intraventricular hemorrhage, contralateral or interhemisheric SDGs, and delayed cranioplasty. However, in the multivariate analysis, only large craniectomy area (adjusted OR=4.66; p=0.0239) and contralateral SDG (adjusted OR=6.62; p=0.0105) were significant independent risk factors for developing hydrocephalus after DC. The incidence of overall SDGs after DC was 55.43% (51/92). Subgroup analysis results were separated by SDG types. Statistically significant associations between hydrocephalus were found in multivariate analysis in the contralateral (adjusted OR=5.58; p=0.0074) and interhemispheric (adjusted OR=17.63; p=0.0113) types. Conclusion : For patients who are subjected to DC following severe head trauma, hydrocephalus is associated with a large craniectomy area and contralateral SDG. For SDGs after DC that occur on the interhemispherical or controlateral side of the craniectomy, careful follow-up monitoring for the potential progression into hydrocephalus is needed.