A Rare Complications of Sickle Cell Disease: Empyema and Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is a hemoglobinopathy responsible for many complications that are sometimes frightening. Brain damage is part of one of the complications that can affect the vital and/or functional prognosis of patients. We report two cases of neurological complications, patients with known homozygous sickle cell disease, admitted to the Resuscitation Service of the JRA University Hospital for neurological deficit of recent appearance. One presented a spontaneous bilateral chronic bilateral subdural hematoma, and the other an extradural empyema diagnosed on brain scan. The patients benefited from a neurosurgical intervention with favorable postoperative outcomes, marked by an improvement in neurological symptoms. This form of complication is relatively rare in patients with sickle cell disease. It is favoured by repeated vaso-occlusive crises responsible for vascular fragility following repeated ischemia and inflammatory phenomena. The surgical indication depends on the clinical condition and the radiological aspect