Objective: To investigate the frequency and risk factors of contralateral epidural hematoma (CEDH) following decompressive craniectomy (DC) in patients with calvarial skull fracture contralateral to the craniectomy site.
Methods: After reviewing the medical records and radiographs over a 5-year period, 72 patients with calvarial fracture contralateral to the craniectomy site were enrolled to determine the risk factors for the development of CEDH following DC.
Results: Among 13 patients with CEDH following DC, all but 1 patient were younger than 60 years of age. In 10 patients (77%) with CEDH, the contralateral calvarial fracture involved more than 1 bone plate. Comparatively, contralateral calvarial fracture involving more than 1 bone plate was noted in 21 patients (35.6%) without CEDH. After multiple logistic regression analysis, only age (P = 0.008, odds ratio [OR] = 0.916, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.858-0.987) and number of fracture-involved bone plate (P = 0.006, OR = 10.971, 95% CI = 2.02-59.70) remained independently associated with CEDH development following DC, and CEDH development rate increased by 8.4% with every 1-year decrease in age.
Conclusions: Age and number of fracture-involved bone plate are significant risk factors for CEDH development following DC. Involvement of 2 or more bone plates of contralateral calvarial skull fracture in young adult may prompt an immediate postoperative computed tomography scan to detect the occurrence of CEDH, irrespective of the operative findings and neurologic status. This may prevent devastating neurologic consequences of CEDH and improve therapeutic outcome.
Keywords: Calvarial skull fracture; Contralateral epidural hematoma; Decompressive craniectomy; Traumatic brain injury.
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