Outcome of Surgically Treated Acute Traumatic Epidural Hematomas Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale

Abstract

This study was a retrospective analysis of outcome of surgically treated acute traumatic epidural hematomas based on the Glasgow coma scale. The series enrolled forty-six consecutive cases of acute traumatic epidural hematomas. The mean age of patients was 29.56 years and 63.04% of the patients were between 21 and 30 years of age. Forty-tree out of 46 (93.47%) of the patients were males. Road traffic crash was the main mode of injury. The severity of the traumatic brain injury was classified according to the Glasgow coma scale score at admission. The injury was mild or moderate in 35 (76.08%) cases and severe in 11. Eight patients (17.39%) presented with pupillary abnormalities. The computed tomography scanning of the head has objectivized the epidural hematoma in all patients and has shown a mass effect with midline shift in all but one case (45/46). The most frequent surgical procedure done was craniotomy. Six (13.04%) patients died (GOS 1), but 38 (82.60%) recovered fully (GOS 5) and two (04.34%) were disabled but independent (GOS 4). The Glasgow coma score at admission was very predictive for good or poor outcome, since all patients but one who died and all survivors who were disabled were comatose at admission (GCS ≤ 8).