• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.211-214
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• 2005

Objective : Post-traumatic hydrocephalus is a complication of head injury and can present with several different clinical symptoms. However, the developing factors of post-traumatic hydrocephalus and treatment are still not well known. The authors design the study to focus on incidence, causing diseases and treatment of post-traumatic hydrocephalus. Methods : The 789patients of traumatic head injury followed by admission treatment over 7days from Jan. 1997 to Dec. 2001, were divided shunt group and shunt free group. We analyzed age, sex, causing diseases, developing time of hydrocephalus and effects of shunt operation in post-traumatic hydrocephalus. Results : The incidence of post-traumatic hydrocephalus for requiring shunt was 9.2% [64cases]. Chronic hydrocephalus which developed after 14days of injury was higher incidence [51cases]. We found following variables were significantly related to shunt-dependent hydrocephalus : low GCS score at admission, initial CT finding of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage [including intraventricular hemorrhage]. The effect of shunt operation was not related with the spinal pressure, but had statistically significant correlation with the response of lumbar drainage. Conclusion : We conclude that development of hydrocephalus after head trauma is related to low GCS score, intracerebral hemorrhage [including intraventricular hemorrhage] and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The effect of preoperative lumbar drainage has a significant role in predicting the result of shunt operation in patient with post-traumatic hydrocephalus.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.225-228
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• 2016

The entrapment of intracranial air from the check valve system results in a tension pneumocephalus. It should be distinguished from simple pneumocephalus because they are intracranial space-occupying masses that can threaten life. Communicating hydrocephalus is a serious and frequent complication of post-traumatic head injury. Head injury is one of the most common causes in etiopathogenesis of communicating hydrocephalus. Here, we describe a case of a 65-year-old man who developed communicating hydrocephalus after a post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of communicating hydrocephalus developed after a post-traumatic tension pneumocephalus. Although the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying the cascade following trauma remain unclear, communicating hydrocephalus after a tension pneumocephalus could be considered a possible complication.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2023

Objective: This clinical study describes the effect of Korean medicine on a post-traumatic hydrocephalus patient complaining of gait disturbance and dementia. Case presentation: A post-traumatic hydrocephalus patient complaining of gait disturbance and dementia was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Korean Mini Mental Status Exam (K-MMSE), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI). After treatment, the patient showed improved K-MMSE, FIM, and MBI scores. Conclusion: This clinical case study provides evidence of the effect of Korean medicine on a post-traumatic hydrocephalus patient complaining of gait disturbance and dementia.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.56-61
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• 2023

A 5-month-old female domestic short-haired cat presented with a history of seizure episodes for two months following an animal bite injury to the head. There were no remarkable findings on physical and neurological examination or blood analysis. Computed tomography revealed a fracture of the left parietal bone with an inward displacement of the bone fragment while magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlarged temporal horn of the left lateral ventricle and a pseudomeningocele compressing the adjacent cerebral parenchyma. Subsequently, cerebrospinal fluid analysis results were normal. The patient was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), with subsequent post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) and pseudomeningocele. Despite treatment with phenobarbital and levetiracetam, seizures were not sufficiently controlled. Craniectomy for bone fragment removal and duraplasty were performed after a week. The patient then returned to normal condition with no further seizure activity. On repeated MRI two months after discharge, the hydrocephalus of the lateral ventricle and pseudomeningocele were enlarged; however, the patient maintained a good clinical status without any neurological signs. To the best of our knowledge, PTH and intracranial pseudomeningoceles have not yet been reported in cats. PTH and pseudomeningocele are among the complications of TBI and may not have any significant relevance with the clinical signs in this case. Thus, to broaden our knowledge about PTH and pseudomeningocele in cats, we describe serial changes in the clinical findings of this cat over the treatment period.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.254-261
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• 2015

Objective : The present study aims to investigate 1) the risk factors for hydrocephalus and subdural hygroma (SDG) occurring after decompressive craniectomy (DC), and 2) the association between the type of SDG and hydrocephalus. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological features of 92 patients who underwent DC procedures after severe head injuries. The risk factors for developing post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) and SDG were analyzed. Types of SDGs were classified according to location and their relationship with hydrocephalus was investigated. Results : Ultimately, 26.09% (24/92) of these patients developed PTH. In the univariate analyses, hydrocephalus was statically associated with large bone flap diameter, large craniectomy area, bilateral craniectomy, intraventricular hemorrhage, contralateral or interhemisheric SDGs, and delayed cranioplasty. However, in the multivariate analysis, only large craniectomy area (adjusted OR=4.66; p=0.0239) and contralateral SDG (adjusted OR=6.62; p=0.0105) were significant independent risk factors for developing hydrocephalus after DC. The incidence of overall SDGs after DC was 55.43% (51/92). Subgroup analysis results were separated by SDG types. Statistically significant associations between hydrocephalus were found in multivariate analysis in the contralateral (adjusted OR=5.58; p=0.0074) and interhemispheric (adjusted OR=17.63; p=0.0113) types. Conclusion : For patients who are subjected to DC following severe head trauma, hydrocephalus is associated with a large craniectomy area and contralateral SDG. For SDGs after DC that occur on the interhemispherical or controlateral side of the craniectomy, careful follow-up monitoring for the potential progression into hydrocephalus is needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.244-250
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• 2010

Objective : Adequate management of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is critical in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and decompressive craniectomy is widely used to treat refractory increased ICP. The authors reviewed and analyzed complications following decompressive craniectomy for the management of TBI. Methods : A total of 89 consecutive patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for TBI between February 2004 and February 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Incidence rates of complications secondary to decompressive craniectomy were determined, and analyses were performed to identify clinical factors associated with the development of complications and the poor outcome. Results : Complications secondary to decompressive craniectomy occurred in 48 of the 89 (53.9%) patients. Furthermore, these complications occurred in a sequential fashion at specific times after surgical intervention; cerebral contusion expansion ($2.2{\pm}1.2$ days), newly appearing subdural or epidural hematoma contralateral to the craniectomy defect ($1.5{\pm}0.9$ days), epilepsy ($2.7{\pm}1.5$ days), cerebrospinal fluid leakage through the scalp incision ($7.0{\pm}4.2$ days), and external cerebral herniation ($5.5{\pm}3.3$ days). Subdural effusion ($10.8{\pm}5.2$ days) and postoperative infection ($9.8{\pm}3.1$ days) developed between one and four weeks postoperatively. Trephined and post-traumatic hydrocephalus syndromes developed after one month postoperatively (at $79.5{\pm}23.6$ and $49.2{\pm}14.1$ days, respectively). Conclusion : A poor GCS score ($\leq$ 8) and an age of $\geq$ 65 were found to be related to the occurrence of one of the above-mentioned complications. These results should help neurosurgeons anticipate these complications, to adopt management strategies that reduce the risks of complications, and to improve clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권5호
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• pp.584-590
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• 2017

Objective : Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children under age 24 months has characteristic features because the brain at this age is rapidly growing and sutures are opened. Moreover, children this age are completely dependent on their parents. We analyzed the demographic data and risk factors for outcomes in TBI patients in this age group to elucidate their clinical characteristics. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiological films of children under 24 months who were admitted to Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2004 to December 2013 for TBI. Specifically, we analyzed age, cause of injury, initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, radiological diagnosis, seizure, hydrocephalus, subdural hygroma, and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score, and we divided outcomes into good (GOS 4-5) or poor (GOS 1-3). We identified the risk factors for post-traumatic seizure (PTS) and outcomes using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results : The total number of patients was 60, 39 males and 21 females. Most common age group was between 0 to 5 months, and the median age was 6 months. Falls were the most common cause of injury (n=29, 48.3%); among them, 15 were falls from household furniture such as beds and chairs. Ten patients (16.7%) developed PTS, nine in one week; thirty-seven patients (61.7%) had skull fractures. Forty-eight patients had initial GCS scores of 13-15, 8 had scores of 12-8, and 4 had scored 3-7. The diagnoses were as follows : 26 acute subdural hematomas, 8 acute epidural hematomas, 7 focal contusional hemorrhages, 13 subdural hygromas, and 4 traumatic intracerebral hematomas larger than 2 cm in diameter. Among them, two patients underwent craniotomy for hematoma removal. Four patients were victims of child abuse, and all of them had PTS. Fifty-five patients improved to good-to-moderate disability. Child abuse, acute subdural hematoma, and subdural hygroma were risk factors for PTS in univariate analyses. Multivariate analysis found that the salient risk factor for a poor outcome was initial GCS on admission. Conclusion : The most common cause of traumatic head injury in individuals aged less than 24 months was falls, especially from household furniture. Child abuse, moderate to severe TBI, acute subdural hematoma, and subdural hygroma were risk factors for PTS. Most of the patients recovered with good outcomes, and the risk factor for a poor outcome was initial mental status.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권sup2호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2001

틈새뇌실증후군은 수두증으로 션트술을 시행받은 환아에서 CT나 MRI소견상 틈새처럼 좁은 뇌실을 가지고 있으면서 간헐적으로 두통, 구토 또는 의식장애등이 동반되는 질환이다. 1986년부터 1996년까지 총 821명의 환자가 수두증으로 션트술을 시행받았다. 이 환자들의 수두증의 원인은 뇌종양(140명), 출혈(62명), 정상압수두증(64명), 뇌수막염(58명), 외상(54명), 선천성(48명), 뇌낭미충증(31명), 그리고 이유를 알 수 없었던 경우가 364명으로 나타났다. 평균 추적 관찰 기간은 68개월이었으며 총 232명에서 재수술을 시행하였으며 1인당 1.28회의 재수술율을 보였다. 이들중 틈새뇌실 증후군은 6예로 0.7%였다. 틈새뇌실증후군 대부분의 환자는 영아기에 수술을 시행받았다. 처음 수술로부터 틈새뇌실증후군이 발생하기까지의 기간은 4~8년으로 평균 6년후 틈새뇌실증후군이 발생하였다. 동위원소 검사상 6예에서 션트의 기능은 모두 정상이었다. 증상이 경미한 2명의 환자에서는 보존적 치료를 시행하였는데 치료후 증상의 호전을 보였다. 이 환자들은 뇌압측정을 시행하지 않았다. 6명중 1명은 뇌압 측정시 높게 나타나 기존과 같은 압력밸브를 이용하여 재수술을 시행하였다. 3명의 환자는 낮은 뇌압을 보여 안티사이펀밸브나 기존보다 높은 압력의 밸브를 이용하여 재수술을 시행하였다. 틈새뇌실증후군의 치료는 첫째, 증후군의 양상을 정확하게 판단하여, 둘째, 증상을 완화시킬 수 있는 방향으로 치료방침을 설정해야 할 것으로 생각되었다.