Prediction of Rupture of Pre-existing Cerebral Aneurysm by CT Findings in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

PURPOSE: Rupture of pre-existing cerebral aneurysms has occasionally been reported as a cause of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (TSAH) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH). SAH due to rupture of pre-existing cerebral aneurysm is an important differential diagnosis in TSAH. The aim of our study was to determine whether a rupture in a pre-existing cerebral aneurysm could be predicted based on the pattern of hemorrhage on the initial computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: A total of 336 patients who had undergone computed tomography angiography (CTA) for detection of rupture of pre-existing cerebral aneurysm in TBI between the years 2004 and 2013 were retrospectively studied. In order to investigate CT findings of ruptured cerebral aneurysm, patients who had a lesion of SAH, IPH, or IVH were compared with the control group (who had intracranial lesions of contusion, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, or hemorrhagic contusion). RESULTS: Fifty eight (17.3%) patients with TSAH harbored cerebral aneurysms, and 45 (13.4%) patients had ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The ruptured aneurysms showed significant association with CT findings of a diffuse hemorrhage in the basal cisterns (29.2%, p=0.003, OR=23.130), unilateral sylvian fissure (13.8%, p=0.039, OR=8.842), anterior interhemispheric fissure (20.0%, p=0.028, OR=14.000), and associated IPH (22.6%, p=0.011, OR=16.333). However, the ruptured aneurysms did not show association with CT findings of hemorrhage on convexities, perimesencephalic cisterns, bilateral sylvian fissure, and IVH (p>0.1). CONCLUSION: Patterns of distribution of SAH and associated IPH on initial CT can be predicted of rupture pre-existing cerebral aneurysm in patients with TBI.

Factors Affecting Hemodynamic Instability in Patients with Pelvic Bone Fracture

PURPOSE: Treatment and prognosis in patients with pelvic bone fracture depend on the characteristics of the fracture and the stability of the pelvic ring. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of and the relationships between fracture patterns, injury mechanisms, clinical courses, and prognoses according to the hemodynamic pattern. METHODS: Between January 2004 and September 2006, 89 patients under diagnosis of pelvic bone fracture were retrospectively analyzed on the basis of medical records and radiologic examinations. Patients with confirmed hemorragic shock with a systolic pressure of less than 90 mmHg were defined as the shock group. Young's classification was used to characterize fracture patterns. Factors relating to the clinical manifestation and to treatments such as transfusion and surgery were analytically compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 48.8+/-18.7, among which 49 (55.1%) were male. The numbers of shock and non-shock patients were 35 (39.3%) and 54 (60.7%) respectively. Eighteen (51.4%) of the shock patient had injuries resulting from pedestrian accidents (p=0.008). According to Young's classification, lateral impact fractures amounted to 20 and 33, front-rear impact fractures to 9 and 20, and multiple fractures to 6 and 1 among the shock and non-shock patients, respectively (p=0.027). Thirty-nine (39) cases in non-shock injuries were conservatively managed while 18 cases in shock injuries were surgically treated. In the shock group, the liver and the kidney were often damaged, as well. Among the shock patients, the average admission period was 7.5+/-8.7 days in intensive care and 55.1+/-47.9 days in total, which were longer than the corresponding numbers of days for the non-shock patients (p<0.05). No deaths occurred in the non-shock group while 5 deaths (14.2%) occurred in the shock group (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: The factors affecting hemodynamic instability in patients with pelvic bone fracture are injury mechanism, classification of fracture, and associated injuries.