Decompressive Craniectomy in Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury: An Industrial Hospital Study

High intracranial pressure is the most frequent cause of mortality and disability after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) which is treated by first-line therapeutic measures. When these measures fail, second-line therapies are started. Among second-line therapies, decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been used. It improves the functional outcome in these patients.

This study aims to analyze the clinicoradiological factors associated with the prognosis of severe TBI in patients undergoing DC.

It was a retrospective case series study from April 2014 to March 2016.

A total of 85 patients (admitted at Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur) with severe diffuse TBI with clinical and radiological evidence of intracranial hypertension who were refractory to first-tier therapies and required DC were included in our study. Cases excluded were patients with age <10 years and polytrauma patients.

Out of 85 cases, 55 were males, and thirty were females (male:female = 1.8:1) with the age ranging from 17 to 68 years. Road traffic accident was the leading cause of injury in 69.5% cases. A total of 49 (58%) patients were of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 4-6 whereas 36 (42%) patients had GCS 7-8. Computed tomography (CT) scan brain was classified as per Marshall CT classification. Bifrontotemporal DC was done in 29% cases, and unilateral frontotemporoparietal craniectomy was done in 71%.

Patients with younger age, early surgical intervention, better preoperative GCS score, and with low Marshall CT score have better prognosis.