ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury represents a significant cause of mortality and permanent disability in the adult population. Acute subdural haematoma is one of the conditions most strongly associated with severe brain injury. Knowledge on the natural history of the illness and the outcome of patients conservatively managed may help the neurosurgeon in the decision-making process. We prospectively analysed 27 patients with age ranges 15-90 years, in whom a CT scan diagnosis of acute subdural haematoma was made, and in whom craniotomy for evacuation was not initially performed, to the neurosurgery department of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad [2008-2011]. Patients with deranged bleeding profile, anticoagulant therapy, chronic liver disease, any other associated intracranial abnormalities, such as cerebral contusions, as shown on CT, were excluded from this study. All patients were followed by serial CT scans, and a neurological assessment was done. There were 18 male and 9 female patients, Cerebral atrophy was present in over half of the sample. In 22 of our patients, the acute subdural haematoma resolved spontaneously, without evidence of damage to the underlying brain, as shown by CT or neurological findings. Four patients subsequently required burr hole drainage for chronic subdural haematoma. In each of these patients, haematoma thickness was greater than 10 mm. The mean delay between injury and operation in this group was 15-21 days. Among these patients 1 patient required craniotomy for haematoma removal due to neurological deterioration. Certain conscious patients with small acute subdural haematomas, without mass effect on CT, may be safely managed conservatively, but due to high risk of these acute subdural haematoma changing into chronic subdural haematoma these patients should be reinvestigated in case of neurological deterioration.
ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury represents a significant cause of mortality and permanent disability in the adult population. Posttraumatic CSF rhinorrhea is one of the conditions most strongly associated with severe brain injury. Knowledge on the natural history of the illness and the outcomes of patients with transcranial subfrontal approach for posttraumatic CSF rhinorrhea approach may help the neurosurgeon in the decision-making process. This study was conducted to analyse the outcome of trans-cranial sub-frontal approach for traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, with duroplasty and fibrin glue. This study was carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad from Jan 2007 to Jun 2011. All patients undergoing trans-cranial sub-frontal repair of traumatic CSF fistulas were included. Where possible primary dural repair was performed under hypotensive general anaesthesia and in the cases where it was not possible, graft was used. This was followed by application of fibrin glue at the repaired site. Graft materials used in this study were taken from fascia lata, pericranium, and temporalis fascia. Out of 27 patients 21 were men and 6 were women. Age of the patients ranged from 17 to 56 [34.5 +/- 4.6] years. Main causes of trauma were road traffic accidents [23, 85%], fall from height [3, 11%], and assaults [1, 4%]. In 23 [85%] cases no CSF leak was observed in immediate postoperative period as well as during the follow-up visits while in 3 [11%] cases additional lumber punctures were required to augment the repair. One patient failed to respond to surgery and lumbar drainage. The CSF rhinorrhea is commonly seen in patients with anterior skull fractures secondary to head injury. Initially conservative trail should be given to the patients, if it fails then on-lay dural technique followed by fibrin glue application through transcranial approach has good outcome with less chances of complications.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leaks can arise as a complication of trauma, hydrocephalus, endoscopic sinus surgery or it may occur spontaneously without any identifiable cause. Surgical repair is recommended in patients who do not respond to the conservative management. In recent years transnasal endoscopic approach has become the preferred method for repairing the CSF leaks and better outcomes have been reported as compared to the intracranial approaches that were previously used. Objective of this study was to analyse the outcome of transnasal endoscopic repairof CSF rhinorrhoea. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, from March 2007 to March 2010. Twenty-one patients with CSF rhinorrhoea were included in study that were diagnosed on the basis of clinical evaluation, glucose concentration of nasal discharge, computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. These patients did not respond to conservative management and were operated transnasally using rigid endoscope. Patients were followed up for a mean duration of 9 months and the outcome was analysed. Results: The patients included in the study ranged in the age group of 1255 years. Among the patients 13 [57%] were female and 8 [38%] were males. The cause of CSF rhinorrhoea was traumatic in 16 [76.19%], Idiopathic or spontaneous in 4 [19.04%] and 1 [4.7%] case was related to endoscopic surgery for pituitary macroedenoma. In 10 [47.6.8%] patients the site of leak was cribriform plate, 5 [23.8%] had from sphenoid, 4 [19.04%] from frontal sinus and in 2 [9.5%] Ethmoid was affected. Primary surgery was successful in 17 [80.95%] of cases. In 2 [9.5%] cases re-exploration had to be performed. In 1 patient re-exploration had to be done for the third time. Overall success rate was 95%. One patient presented with CSF leak and meningitis 1 month after surgery and unfortunately died. Conclusion: Transnasal endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhoea is highly successful, safe and less traumatic. Keywords: Transnasal endoscopic repair, CSF Rhinorrhoea, CSF leak, transnasal endoscopic duroplasty