Traumatic Extradural Hematomas. In: Mclaurin RL, editor. Extracerebral Collections. Vienna: Springer; 1986. pp. 1-50. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-8805-7_1]

Acute subfrontal epidural hematoma: report of two cases

Two cases of acute subfrontal epidural hematoma are reported. Both were diagnosed by computed tomography scan and successfully removed via a frontal craniotomy.

The outcome from acute subdural and epidural intracranial haematomas in very elderly patients

Out of a consecutive series of 1082 operations performed on head-injured patients over a 9-year period, 28 cases of acute subdural haematomas (SDHs) or epidural haematomas (EDHs) occurring in patients aged between 80 and 100 years were selected. Mortality rates in these patients (100% in 2 EDHs, 88% in 26 SDHs) were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) compared with patients under 80 years (12% in 308 EDHs, 57% in 215 SDHs). Pre-existing diseases, primary events precipitating falls, and multiple system failure complicating the postoperative course accounted for most of the deaths. None of the patients operated upon with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11 or less survived. A typical 'talk and die' course occurred in two cases. Three patients, all operated on for SDH, survived and returned to their pre-injury conditions. It was concluded that, whilst the question as to whether to submit very old comatose patients to life-prolonging measures remains unsettled, there is a case for the prompt evacuation of extra-axial clots in patients with minimal impairment of consciousness.

Traumatic epidural haematomas of the posterior fossa: 20 new cases and a review of the literature since 1961

Twenty patients with an epidural haematoma of the posterior fossa (EPIPF) among a total number of 359 patients with an epidural haematoma are reported (5.6%). Nine patients obtained a good outcome, four patients had a moderate disability and seven patients died (mortality 35%). Mortality of the acute cases was 50%, of the subacute cases 20%. In general, the clinical features were uncertain. Sixteen cases showed an occipital skull fracture or diastasis of the lambdoid suture respectively. A total number of 127 cases with EPIPF from the literature since 1961 was studied. The mortality in the CT-diagnosed group ran to 21.7% and to 25.9% in the group without CT. None of the patients showing a subacute course died when the diagnosis was made by CT, in the group without CT, however, four patients out of 11 subacute cases died. Head injured patients with an occipital trauma should therefore undergo CT scanning to detect a surgically significant lesion before clinical deterioration occurs.