Simulating Cerebral Edema and Ischemia After Traumatic Acute Subdural Hematoma Using Triphasic Swelling Biomechanics

Poor outcome following traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is associated with the severity of the primary injury and secondary injury including cerebral edema and ischemia. However, the underlying secondary injury mechanism contributing to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) and high mortality rate remains unclear. Cerebral edema occurs in response to the exposure of the intracellular fixed charge density (FCD) after cell death, causing ICP to increase. The increased ICP from swollen tissue compresses blood vessels in adjacent tissue, restricting blood flow and leading to ischemic damage. We hypothesize that the mass occupying effect of ASDH exacerbates the ischemic injury, leading to ICP elevation, which is an indicator of high mortality rate in the clinic. Using FEBio (febio.org) and triphasic swelling biomechanics, this study modeled clinically relevant ASDHs and simulated post-traumatic brain swelling and ischemia to predict ICP. Results showed that common convexity ASDH significantly increased ICP by exacerbating ischemic injury, and surgical removal of the convexity ASDH may control ICP by preventing ischemia progression. However, in cases where the primary injury is very severe, surgical intervention alone may not effectively decrease ICP, as the contribution of the hematoma to the elevated ICP is insignificant. In addition, interhemispheric ASDH, located between the cerebral hemispheres, does not significantly exacerbate ischemia, supporting the conservative surgical management generally recommended for interhemispheric ASDH. The joint effect of the mass occupying effect of the blood clot and resulting ischemia contributes to elevated ICP which may increase mortality. Our novel approach may improve the fidelity of predicting patient outcome after motor vehicle crashes and traumatic brain injuries due to other causes.

Lumbosacral subdural hematoma associated with cranial subdural hematoma and craniocerebral surgery: Three cases and a systemic literature review

OBJECTIVE

The authors aim to focus on lumbosacral subdural hematoma (SDH) associated with cranial subdural hematoma and craniocerebral surgery, which has been rarely reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

They present 3 cases of lumbosacral SDH, including 2 associated with cranial chronic SDH and 1 following craniotomy for neck clipping of cerebral aneurysm. Using a PubMed search, they also provide a systemic literature review to summarize pathogenesis, treatment and outcome.

RESULTS

All cases presented with bilateral radiating leg pain, and recovered completely by conservative managements. Predisposing factors were trauma, anticoagulant therapy and brain atrophy. Literature review revealed 54 such cases, in which 28 cases associated with cranial SDH and 26 cases associated with craniocerebral surgery. In both group, main symptoms were low back and radiating leg pain, and sensorimotor deficits. Regardless of treatments, conservatively or surgically, outcome was favorable. Migration of cranial hematoma is most supported pathogenesis, while intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid overdrainage procedures may also be a contributing factor for cases associated with craniocerebral surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Lumbosacral SDH should be considered in patients present with unexpected low back and radiating leg pains associated with cranial SDH and craniocerebral surgery. Conservative treatment would be reasonable for cases with mild symptoms as the first treatment of choice.

Clinical Features of Interhemispheric Subdural Hematomas

Objective

Interhemispheric subdural hematoma (IHSDH) is uncommon, because of their unusual location. However, it is a distinct lesion with its unique characteristics. We investigated clinical features and outcomes of consecutive 42 patients with IHSDH, retrospectively.

Methods

From 2006 to 2015, we treated 105 patients with IHSDH. All patients were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging. We selected 42 patients with thick (3 mm or more) IHSDH. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological findings, management and outcomes.

Results

The male to female ratio was 2:1. Two thirds of the patients were over 60 years old. Slip or fall was the most common cause of trauma. The level of consciousness on admission was Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 13 to 15 in 25 patients. The most common symptom was headache. All IHSDH was hyperdense in CT at the time of diagnosis. IHSDH frequently accompanied convexity subdural hematoma. The outcome was favorable in 27 patients, however, six patients were expired. Twenty-two patients were managed conservatively. Surgery was performed in ten patients to remove the concurrent lesion. The outcome was poor in spontaneous one, patients with low GCS, and patients with conservative treatment.

Conclusion

IHSDH is rare especially the isolated one. The outcome was dependent to the severity of injury. Surgery may be helpful to remove the concurrent mass lesion, however, conservative treatment is generally preferred.

Traumatic Spinal Subdural Hematoma with Intracranial Subdural Hematoma

Traumatic spinal subdural hematoma associated with intracranial subdural hematoma is a rare condition. Herein, we report the case of a 62-year-old man with lower back pain, radiating pain, and numbness in both lower extremities, without motor weakness, for 2 weeks. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high signal intensity on T1-weighted image (WI), and low signal intensity on T2-WI from L2 to L5. Two weeks after conservative management, follow-up lumbar MRI did not show the hematoma and his symptoms were relieved and there was no neurological deficit; therefore, he was discharged. However, subsequently, intracranial subdural hematoma increased and upper extremity motor weakness appeared. This was treated surgically. If there is no neurological deficit, conservative treatment may be a good option. Follow-up evaluation for asymptomatic cranial subdural hematoma is necessary.

Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma of intracranial origin presenting as back pain

BACKGROUND

Spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) is an uncommon condition mainly associated with bleeding dyscrasias, use of anticoagulants, trauma, iatrogenic procedures, and vascular malformations. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are recommended to prevent progressive neurologic compromise. Spinal SDH concomitant with intracranial SDH is an even rarer entity, with few cases reported in the English literature. Here we present a case of spontaneous spinal SDH with intracranial SDH presenting as sacral back pain in a 70-year-old man. We also describe the potential mechanism, treatment, and prognosis of concomitant spinal and intracranial SDH.

CASE REPORT

We report an unusual case of spontaneous spinal SDH concomitant with intracranial SDH and discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, potential etiology, treatment, and prognosis of this disease. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Awareness of the association between spinal SDH and intracranial SDH can expedite appropriate imaging of both brain and spine, which can lead to a more complete diagnosis and require changes in patient management in the emergency setting.

Prospective assessment of concomitant lumbar and chronic subdural hematoma: is migration from the intracranial space involved in their manifestation?

Object

Spinal subdural hematomas (SDHs) are rare and some are concomitant with intracranial SDH. Their pathogenesis and etiology remain to be elucidated although their migration from the intracranial space has been suggested. The authors postulated that if migration plays a major role, patients with intracranial SDH may harbor asymptomatic lumbar SDH. The authors performed a prospective study on the incidence of spinal SDH in patients with intracranial SDH to determine whether migration is a key factor in their concomitance.

Methods

The authors evaluated lumbar MR images obtained in 168 patients (125 males, 43 females, mean age 75.6 years) with intracranial chronic SDH to identify cases of concomitant lumbar SDH. In all cases, the lumbar MRI studies were performed within the 1st week after surgical irrigation of the intracranial SDH.

Results

Of the 168 patients, 2 (1.2%) harbored a concomitant lumbar SDH; both had a history of trauma to both the head and the hip and/or lumbar area. One was an 83-year-old man with prostate cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome who suffered trauma to his head and lumbar area in a fall from his bed. The other was a 70-year-old man who had hit his head and lumbar area in a fall. Neither patient manifested neurological deficits and their hematomas disappeared under observation. None of the patients with concomitant lumbar SDH had sustained head trauma only, indicating that trauma to the hip or lumbar region is significantly related to the concomitance of SDH (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

As the incidence of concomitant lumbar and intracranial chronic SDH is rare and both patients in this study had sustained a direct impact to the head and hips, the authors suggest that the major mechanism underlying their concomitant SDH was double trauma. Another possible explanation is hemorrhagic diathesis and low CSF syndrome.