Litigation

Decompresive craniectomy following severe traumatic brain injury

By Michael Kaplen

A decompressive craniectomy can be a life-saving procedure to relieve critically increased intracranial pressure.  In a paper published in the journal Neurosurgery (October 2008), the author's investigated what the long term clinical results were following this procedure.  

The researchers looked at Thirty-three patients (20 males and 13 females) with a mean age of 36.3 years (range 13-60 years) with severe traumatic brain injury (Grades III and IV) and subsequent massive brain swelling.  

The results of this survey revealed that  one-fifth of all patients died and one-fifth remained in a vegetative state. Mild deficits were seen in 6 of 33 patients. A full rehabilitation (Barthel Index 90-100) was achieved in 13 patients (39.4%). Five patients could resume their former occupation, and another 4 had to change jobs.

The study concluded that  age remains to be one of the most important exclusion factors. Decompressive craniectomy provided good clinical results in nearly 40% of patients who were otherwise most likely to die. Therefore, long-term results justify the use of decompressive craniectomy in this case series.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on November 16, 2008 (boomark / email).