Analysis of 150 Cases with Chronic Subdural Hematoma in Adult on the Factors Related to Functional Outcome

Summary

One hundred and fifty cases with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in adult were retrospectively analyzed in order to elucidate the factors responsible for long-term functional outcome. The mean age was 63 years. All the patients underwent burr hole and irrigation surgery with external drainage of a short duration. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 7 years. The outcome was evaluated by Karnofsky scale. Seven cases (4.6%) had recurrence of CSDH and 11 (7.3%) had intracranial complications, such as epidural hematoma (3.3%) and intracerebral hematoma (1.3%). Four cases (2.7%) had systemic complications. These complications were significantly responsible for poor outcome. In addition, brain atrophy, which was defined as ventricular dilatation and/or subdural effusion on the follow-up CT, was the other factor responsible for poor outcome in the patients of CSDH without complications. Therefore, the poor outcome may be related to brain atrophy and potential cerebral ischemia in those patients.