Introduction

Head injury is one of the most important causes of death and disability among people, especially young adults. It is estimated that about sixty-nine million people around the world experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. The effect of TBI may be extra-axial hemorrhage, i.e., an acute subdural and epidural hematoma, which usually requires immediate treatment. Most often, intracranial hematomas are a consequence of severe head injuries [1, 2]. Acute EDHs are identified on head CT as a hyperdense collection in the epidural space, which is located between the inner table of the skull and the dura mater. Subdural hematomas (SDH) are much more common than EDHs. Acute subdural hematomas are identified on head CT as hyperdense hemorrhage into the subdural space, which is interposed between the arachnoid and pia mater [3, 4]. The aim of the study is to present the distinguished clinical features associated with patients being surgically treated for post-traumatic EDH and SDH, among patients who presented to the single neurosurgical center.

Patients and Methods

A group of 128 patients with isolated head injury was included in the study. Twenty-eight patients were operated on due to epidural hematoma (EDH group), and a group of 100 patients were operated on due to acute subdural hematoma (SDH group). All the patients were operated and treated after surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery from 1 October 2014 to 31 August 2017. During this period of time, 146 patients were treated surgically for EDH and SDH, whereas 18 patients were excluded from the study. Exclusion criteria include the lack of complete medical documentation, incomplete laboratory tests, and the lack of description of the computed tomography (CT).

All of the factors were collected retrospectively on the admission of patients in the Emergency Department. The following factors from the groups were analyzed: demographic data, physiological factors, laboratory factors, computed tomography scan characteristics, and the time between trauma and surgery. The records were examined for demographic data, such as gender and age. Physiological factors included initial GCS, pupil reaction to light (normal, a non-reactive one, or both), saturation, systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate (RR) (normal or abnormal value). Hypotension was determined when the SBP value was < 89 mmHg while the SBP > 141 mmHg as hypertension. Laboratory factors included the number of white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), number of platelets (PLT), glycaemia, sodium concentration, coagulopathy, and alcohol levels. Laboratory factors were analyzed on the basis of two groups: normal values and outstanding ones. Additionally, coagulopathy and the state after alcohol intoxication were examined. Coagulopathy was defined as INR > 1.2 or PT > 12.7 s. For the state of intoxication, the alcohol concentration was higher than 0.6 0/00. The study contained the presence of characteristics from the CT, such as the present skull fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), cerebral contusion, maximum thickness of the hematoma, midline shift (MLS), and obliteration basal cistern. The last factor was the time between the injury and the surgery. We investigated the in-hospital mortality of patients at the time of discharge (Table 1).

Table 1 Comparison of factors in both groups
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Statistical Analysis

To compare two independent groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the age of the groups, and Spearman’s R correlations were used to examine the relationship between the variables. The Chi2 homogeneity test was performed to detect differences in unrelated qualitative characteristics between groups. A significance level of p < 0.05 was assumed as statistically significant differences. The statistical research were based on the STATISTICA 13.0 computer software (StatSoft, Poland).

Results

Demographic Data

The mean age of patients in SDH group was 57.86 ± 18.26 years, and it was statistically significantly higher than the mean age of patients with epidural hematoma—38.82 ± 13.37 years (p = 0.00001) (Table 2). In both groups, men were hospitalized more often (Table 1).

Table 2 Mean, median, and standard deviation of the studied factors in both groups
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Physiological Factors

The patients with SDH (median 6) had statistically significantly lower scores in the GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) than patients in EDH group (median 11.5) (p = 0.0006) (Table 2), (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Initial GCS score, time to surgery, and time of in-hospital mortality in both groups

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In the SDH group, more (60%) patients had 8 or less points in GCS than in the EDH group (32.1%), (p = 0.004) (Table 1).

The systolic blood pressure was more frequently abnormal in the SDH group (57%) than in the EDH group (35.7%), (p = 0.05). In the SDH group, hypotension was found more often (33%) than hypertension (24%). In the EDH group, hypertension was more common than hypotension (21.4% vs. 14.3%). In the SDH group, an abnormal value of breaths per minute (42%) was more frequent compared with the other group (21.4%), (p = 0.05). Both differences were close to statistical significance. Saturation < 96% was statistically significantly more frequent in the SDH group than EDH (53% vs. 17.9%), (p = 0.001). In the group with subdural hematomas, the lack of reactivity of both pupils was more frequent (41%) in comparison with patients with EDH (25%), (p = 0.10). Statistical analysis did not show significant differences between groups in the assessment of heart rate per minute (HR) (p = 0.40) (Table 1).

Laboratory Factors

Leukocytosis (64.3%) and anemia (25%) were slightly more frequent in EDH group than in the SDH group (respectively 49% and 21%) (p = 0.33 and p = 0.65). In SDH group, thrombocytopenia (28%), hyperglycemia (78%), and coagulopathy (31%) occurred slightly more frequently than in EDH group, respectively (17.9%, 75%, and 28.6%), (p = 0.54, 0.74, and 0.81). In the case of sodium concentration, statistical analysis did not show significant differences (Table 2).

Computer Tomography Scan Characteristics

Skull fracture was associated more often with patients with EDH (71.4%) than SDH (30%), (p = 0.00007). Basal cisterns were compressed and absent more often in the SDH group (83%) than in EDH group (67.9%), (p = 0.03). Cerebral contusion was more often found in the EDH group (57.1%) than in SDH group (37%), (p = 0.06). There were no significant differences between the groups when it comes to assessment concerning presence of additional hematoma, SAH and IVH. The thickness of the hematoma was significantly higher in EDH group (median 26.5 mm) than in SDH group (median 17 mm), (p = 0.00004). Midline shift was greater in the SDH group (median 10 mm) than in EDH group (median 9 mm), (p = 0.05) (Table 1), (Fig. 2). The thickness of hematoma was most often 11–20 mm (60%) in SDH group and < 30 mm (60.7%) in EDH group. In the group with SDH, the midline shift of over 20 mm was slightly greater (14%) than in the group with EDH (7.1%), (p = 0.14) (Table 1).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Maximum thickness of hematomas and midline shift in both groups

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Time Injury-Surgery

Time between trauma and surgery did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.91) (Table 2), (Fig. 1). In the EDH group, the time to surgery over 10 h (17.9%) was more frequent than in the SDH group (13%), (p = 0.64) (Table 1).

In-Hospital Mortality

Within patients in SDH group, death during hospitalization was more frequent (45%) compared with the EDH group (10.7%), (p = 0.0009). Median time to hospital mortality was slightly longer in the EDH group (4 days) in comparison with SDH group (3 days) (p = 0.71) (Table 2, Fig. 1).

Discussion

Demographic Date

Epidural hematomas usually affect young people, less often children before the age of 2 and people over 60 years of age [4]. Only 2–14% of patients are above the age of 60; peak incidence of EDH placing between the second to fourth decade and the average age of patients with EDH is between 20 and 45 years of age [5, 6]. In our EDH group, mean age was 38.82, and only one patient (3.6%) was above 60 years old. Subdural hematomas are found at any age, with some preference for older people [4, 7]. In our study in SDH group, mean age was 57.86 years. Patients with acute subdural hematomas were statistically significantly older than patients with EDH. Literature shows that average age for patients with SDH is between 45 and 63 years old [8, 9]. Age is one of the most important factors affecting in-hospital mortality and outcome in TBI [10].

TBI is much more common in men than women, because men behave more risky than women, especially in younger age where men are more often exposed to violence and communication injuries [2, 4]. The male dominance among the victims of EDH is recognized with only 6.5–21% of cases in different studies being female [5, 6]. In our study, 7.1% of EDH group were women. In SDH group, women represent 14% of all patients. In other study, women constitute from 20 to 40% among patients with SDH [8, 9, 11].

Physiological Factors

In our study, 67.9% patients had mild to moderate TBI, and 32.1% patients were comatose (3–8 GCS) on admission in EDH group. Literatures show that 20–30% patients with EDH suffered from severe TBI (3–8 GCS) [5, 12]. In SDH group, 60% of patients suffered from severe TBI. In literatures, 45–60% of patients scored 8 and less points in GCS [8, 9, 13]. SDH patients had significantly less points in the GCS than patients in EDH group, (p = 0.0006). Age followed by GCS score and pupil response are the strongest independent prognostic factors in TBI. In addition, age similar to GCS creates a linear function, the lower score in GCS associated with the worse outcome [10, 14].

In our study, pupillary abnormalities were present in 32.1% cases in EDH group. Most studies describe the pupillary abnormalities between 20 and 35% among EDH patients [6, 15]. In our study, pupillary abnormalities were present in 55% in SDH group. In other authors, pupillary abnormalities were described between 40 and 60% [8, 13, 16, 17]. Bilateral dilated pupils are more frequent than unilateral dilated pupil in both groups, and the result was similar to those of other series [16].

TBI causes dysautonomia manifested by episodes of fluctuations in blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, temperature, muscle tone, decorticate or decerebrate posturing, and profuse sweating [1]. Hypoxia causes rapid brain destruction and together with hypotension are considered as secondary insults, which are associated with poorer outcome and higher mortality [14, 18]. In present study, abnormal value of systolic blood pressure (35.7%) was the most common manifestation of dysautonomia in EDH group. Yurt et al. show that bradycardia and arterial hypertension were noticed in 23% of patients [15]. In case of SDH group, we found hyper and hypotension among 57% of patients, with as much as 33% of patients suffering from hypotension. Two studies show that hypotension was in 8.3% and 26.7% of all patients [19, 20]. In this study, we found saturation equal and below 96% in 53% of patients in SDH group. In Kalayci study, 61.8% patients had saturation < 96% [11]. Only saturation was significantly more frequent in the SDH group than EDH, (p = 0.001). Hypoxia and hypotension were common in the SDH group in which the patients’ condition in GCS was significantly more severe than in the EDH group.

Laboratory Factor

Head injury is associated with increased blood levels of catecholamines and cortisol. Catecholamines release neutrophil stores, and corticosteroids cause a decrease in the egress of neutrophils from the circulation. The acute-phase response is also characterized by a leukocytosis on admission [19]. In patients with subdural hematoma, a mean number of leukocytes were found at 18.2 × 103/μl. In patients with epidural hematoma, a mean of leukocytes was 16.5 × 103/μl on admission [21]. In present study, mean number of WBC in SDH and EDH group were respectively 11.9 and 12.4 × 103/μl. Additionally, abnormal number of WBC was found in 52% patients in SDH group in Atanasov study in 55.3% [16].

Hyperglycemia is one of the most common secondary damage in patients after severe TBI, and it is associated with a poorer outcome [14, 22]. Atanasov at al. described hyperglycemia in 85.9% among patients with SDH [16]. We found hyperglycemia in 75% patients in EDH group and in 78%—SDH group. Mean glycaemia values were 159.2 and 143.1 mg/dl, respectively, in EDH and SDH group. Early monitoring of blood glucose in the range of 80–110 mg/dl can protect against nerve ischemia damage, reduce disability, and improve patient prognosis [23].

TBI was associated with serum sodium disorders, especially with hypernatremia. However both hypo- and hypernatremia are associated with a poorer outcome [10]. The incidence of sodium disturbances was found in about half of patients with TBI. In case of SDH, sodium disturbance was found in 31.3% of patients. In case of EDH, 22.5% patients had sodium disturbance [24]. Atanasov et al. described hyponatremia in 16.5% among patients with SDH [16]. In our study, no patients had hypernatremia, although there was 11% patients with hyponatremia in SDH group and 10.7% in EDH group.

We found abnormal number of PLT in 32% patients with SDH; Atanasov et al. described that incidence in 17.6% patients [16]. In present study, anemia was noted in 21.9% cases in both groups. Anemia and thrombocytopenia on admission are associated with poorer outcomes [10, 14]. Mayr showed incidents of coagulopathy among patients with EDH in 25% [25]; we found coagulopathy in 28.6% in EDH group and 31% in SDH group. Incidents of coagulopathy among patients with TBI were in 11.9% cases [20]. The risk of patient death after TBI with coagulopathy is about 10 times higher than patients without coagulopathy [26].

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of all types of trauma. Up to 50% of all patients suffering TBI are intoxicated at the time of injury [20]. In our study, 31.3% of all patients were alcohol intoxicated in both group.

Compute Tomography Scan Characteristic

In our study, 71.4% patient with epidural hematomas had a skull fractures. Most studies describe the incidence between 70 and 85% [6, 14]. Skull fracture was significantly often associated with patients with EDH.

The mean thickness of EDH was 27.3 mm in present study. In other study, mean thickness was 22.4 mm and 24.3 mm [5, 12]. The MLS evaluation showed that there was a shift of less and equal 10 mm in 78.6%, 11–20 mm in 14.3%, and greater than 21 mm in 7.1%. In Zhang et al.’s study, MLS was < 10 mm in 77.3% and > 10 mm in 22.7% [12]. CT scan results showed that basal cisterns were pressed in 67.9% cases; SAH, 39.9%; additional hematoma, 78.6%; IVH, 10.7%; and contusion presented in 57.1% cases. Other study described additional hematoma in 40.9%, SAH in 21.6% or 47.2%, IVH in 12%, and contusion in 40.3% or 46.9% [10, 12].

In SDH group, the mean thickness was 18.4 and was significantly smaller than in EDH group. Walcott et al. found mean thickness—14.4 mm [27]. MLS less than 10 mm was in 58% cases in present study. Most authors confirm that the most MLS was shift up to 10 mm [11, 13]. CT scan results showed that basal cisterns were pressed in 87%; SAH presented in 47%; additional hematoma, 87%; IVH, 17%; and contusion in 37% cases. Other study described basal cistern compress in 70%, SAH between 33 and 85%, IVH in 10.3%, and contusion between 20 and 65%. The most study described SAH and contusion about in 50% [11, 13, 27].

SDH cause a greater mass effect than EDH in the form of greater midline shift and compressed basal cisterns [4, 7]. Present study confirm that association, because basal cistern often was pressed and midline shift was greater in the SDH than in EDH group (p < 0.05). A lot of authors studying patients with hematomas found a higher mortality associated with a greater MLS and the thickness of hematoma. Additionally, presence of SAH, IVH, and contusion testifies to greater severity of injury and associated with higher mortality [10, 26, 28].

Time Injury-Surgery

Time injury-surgery is an important factor, and minimizing this time can significantly reduce in-hospital mortality [29]. The mean time from injury to surgery was 15.7 h in present study in EDH group. In study from China, the mean time between trauma and surgical evacuation of EDH was 10.9 h [12] or 78 h in other study [5]. The mean time between injury and surgery was 9.9 h in SDH group, and 58% patients were operated over 4 h after the injury. The mean time injury-surgery was 5.4 and 14.2 h in other study [27, 30], and 73.5% and 80% of patients were operated over 4 h after the injury [16, 17]. However, time between trauma and surgery did not differ significantly.

In-Hospital Mortality

Our in-hospital mortality among patients with EDH was 10.7%. Mortality rate in case of EDH was from 2.6 to 15.5%, the most study described mortality rate about 10% [3, 5, 6]. In SDH group, our study showed mortality rate of 45%. Mortality in the subdural hematoma varies from 22 to 75%; most often the results oscillate about 40% [3, 11, 13, 17]. In patients with SDH, death during hospitalization was significantly frequent compared with the group with epidural hematoma (p = 0.0009).

Conclusion

Patients with SDH were nearly twice as old as patients with EDH. Most often, extra-axial hematomas affect men, especially the male dominance among the victims of EDH. Patients with SDH were more severe condition than patients with EDH on admission. Two times more patients with SDH suffered severe TBI (3–8 GCS) compared with EDH patients. The effects of dysautonomia were more often in patients with SDH than EDH. Hypo- and hypertension were the most common manifestations of dysautonomia in case of patients with extra-axial hematomas. Hypotension and hypoxia are often associated with a patient in severe condition with SDH. These factors worsen the patient’s prognosis, so they should be treated as soon as possible. Hyperglycemia and leukocytosis were the most common anomalies in laboratory factors routinely recorded on admission. Hyperglycemia is another factor that is significantly associated with prognosis. Despite the fact that EDH had a greater hematoma thickness, SDH caused greater midline shift and often pressed in basal cisterns. Patients with SDH died more than four times more often during hospitalization than patients with EDH.