Traumatic posterior fossa extradural haematoma.

ABSTRACT

Posterior fossa extradural haematoma is known for the vague signs and symptoms and a notorious course that varies from recovery to sudden death. The incidence of posterior fossa epidural hematomas among intracranial epidural hematomas has been reported from 4% to 7%. Subsequently, PFEDH with low GCS or the haematoma of more than 10 ml were subjected to evacuation. Since the volume of the posterior fossa is limited, patients deteriorate early with the development of obstructive hydrocephalus, which is visible in the CT scan in only thirty percent of cases. A retrospective study of 43 cases was done in this Institute from May 1999 to December 2005. The males (98%) have a clear predominance over female patients (2%). Road traffic accidents accounted for the majority of the cases (80%), fall for the rest (17%) and one case due to a bullhorn injury. Vomiting was the most common symptom accounting for 67% of cases followed by transient loss of consciousness in 48% and headache in 34%. On arrival to the hospital 67% presented with a GCS more than 13, 28% with score of 9-12 and the rest 5% with GCS of less than 8. Out of the total 43 cases of PFEDH surgical evacuation was done in 33(76%) and conservative management in 10 cases (23%). A dichotomised Glasgow outcome score was used to measure the outcome. This was favorable in 27 of the 33 cases operated (81%), and 7 out of the 10 conservatively managed group (70%). Overall favorable outcome was found in 34 cases (79%) with overall mortality of the study being 7%.