Superior Cerebral Vein Susceptibility to Injury in Head Trauma

Summary

Following disruption of the parasagittal bridging veins and venous bleedings near the superior margin of the cerebral hemispheres, situated in the cortex or in the subcortical white matter, these “gliding contusions” are common in trauma cases, when the head has suffered rotational acceleration. Such injuries are explained by a sudden head rotation which gives rise to slipping along the brain-skull interface and to deformation of the brain matter. Physical and mathematical models, cadaver tests and animal experiments have been utilized in order to clarify the genesis and to establish tolerance levels of these types of rotational injuries to the cerebral veins.