Treatment of acute traumatic subdural hematomas in infants

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical features of acute traumatic subdural hematomas (SDH) in infants and discuss the treatment methods. Methods The clinical features of 48 infants under three years old with acute traumatic SDH admitted from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Results There were 31 infants under one year old (65%). The most popular injury cause was accidental fall in 37 patients (77%). Of all patients, 12 patients (25%) had disturbance of consciousness,eight ( 17% ) had convulsion and eight ( 17% ) were combined with skull fractures. The treatment methods included craniotomy and evacuation of the blood clot in 18 patients ( including 13 patients underwent instant operation after admission ), burr hole craniotomy and external drainage of the chronic subdural hematoma in seven and conservative management in 23 with small subdural hematomas. All patients obtained good outcome except that two patients had motor dysfunction and one death. Conclusions The incidence of acute traumatic SDH in infants is high, especially in infants under one year old. It is easy to be disregarded at early stage and may deteriorate to chronic subdural hematoma or hydropsy. Early diagnosis and active surgical treatment may attain sound prognosis. Key words: Craniocerebral trauma; Hematoma, subdural; Infants