Analytical report on post traumatic hydrocephalus

Abstract

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a field and disorder less explored in neurosurgery though we see many cases. The commonest causes in our set up includes head injury for which people have undergone decompressive craniectomies, severe head injuries with raised ICP. We did a clinical analysis on 23 cases in a period of 3 years duration from 2018 -2021. We did Evd in few cases for emergency purposes when there was decerebration and we went ahead with VP shunt in all the patients who had gross ventricular dilatation. We have projected our analytical report in these cases. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery in Sri Ramachandra medical college. The clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with PTH was studied. These cases were treated by surgery. The stastical analysis along with cause of the hydrocephalus with the outcome in pre and postoperative period were studied. RESULTS Among the 23 patients studied 82% were males. Road traffic accident was the main cause of injury. The other main cause was a fall from height. Assault was another reason for head injuries which we recorded. We found all road traffic accidents were only because of bike riders either pillion or the people driving the vehicle. . Craniotomy was done in 50 % of the patients, 90 % of the patients recovered who had a gcs of 13 to 7. People with gcs lss than 7 were intubated recovery rate was 7.5 %. . There was 100%mortality because of primary head injury in all the patients who had brain stem contusions with dilated pupil. CONCLUSIONS Trauma to head and who were operated had the highest incidence of post tramatic head injury. Smaller the decompressive craniectomies had symptomatic post traumatic head ache with post traumatic hydrocephalus.. CT scan of the brain is considered the choice of investigation toearly diagnose PTH.we even analysed the ct scan and found when there was periventricular lucency the patient outcome after VP shunting is good. KEY WORDS Hydrocephalus, Head Injury, Trauma