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Updated: Apr 1, 2026
A Preclinical Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Hemorrhage Contusion and Neuroinflammation
Published on: June 10, 2020
[Clinical Study on Cerebellar Contusion:A Report on 9 Cases and Literature Review]
Takeo Nashimoto1, Osamu Sasaki, Takanori Nozawa
1Department of Neurosurgery, Niigata City General Hospital.
Insights
Cerebellar contusion, often caused by falls and direct occipital head trauma, occurred in 3.8% of head injury cases. Surgical intervention for severe contusions improved outcomes, but co-occurring brain injuries worsened prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Neurology
Context:
- Cerebellar contusions are relatively rare but serious traumatic brain injuries.
- Understanding their incidence, clinical presentation, and outcomes is crucial for effective management.
- This study analyzes cases over a 3.5-year period.
Purpose:
- To retrospectively analyze the frequency, clinicoradiological findings, injury mechanisms, treatments, and outcomes of cerebellar contusion.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical interventions like suboccipital craniectomy and clot evacuation.
- To identify factors influencing patient prognosis, such as concomitant supratentorial lesions.
Summary:
- Nine cases of cerebellar contusion (3.8% of head injuries) were identified, predominantly in older males following falls.
- Occipital bone fractures were common (8/9 cases).
- Conservative management was used in 6 cases, while 3 underwent surgery. Outcomes varied, with surgical cases showing mixed results. Poor prognosis was associated with supratentorial lesions.
Impact:
- Highlights coup injury as a significant cause of cerebellar contusion.
- Demonstrates the utility of surgical decompression and clot evacuation in severe cases.
- Emphasizes the negative prognostic impact of associated supratentorial traumatic lesions.
Abstract:
We report 9 cases of cerebellar contusion from April 2011 to September 2014 at our department. Frequency, clinicoradiological findings, mechanism of injury, treatments, and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Of 239 head injury cases admitted to our department during the same period, 9(3.8%)were diagnosed as cerebellar contusion. Among these 9 cases, 7 were men, and 2 were women. The patient age ranged from 12 to 83 years with a mean age of 64.7 years. The mechanism of injury was traffic accident in one patient, and fall in 8. All cases were associated with direct head trauma to the occiput, and radiographic studies showed occipital bone fracture in 8 cases. Six cases were managed conservatively. Three cases underwent suboccipital craniectomies and clot evacuations. Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS)score at discharge were Good Recovery(GR)in 2, Moderate Disability(MD)in 2, Severe Disability(SD)in 3, Vegetative State(VS)in 1, and Dead(D)in 1. GOS scores in surgically treated cases were GR in 1, SD in 1, and VS in 1. Supratentorial severe traumatic lesions were concomitant with poor prognosis. Coup injury was a significant cause of cerebellar contusion. External decompression and clot evacuation were useful in patients who suffered severe cerebellar contusion;however, concomitant supratentorial lesions influenced the prognosis.
