Subperiosteal versus Subdural Drain After Burr Hole Drainage for Chronic Subdural Hematomas: A Systematic Review and...

The use of drains has been considered to be superior to no drains after burr hole drainage of chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs). Therefore, routine placement of a subdural drain (SDD) is supported by most neurosurgeons. However, whether the drain location after CSDH burr hole evacuation influences patient outcomes is unclear. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of subperiosteal drains (SPDs) with those of SDDs for patients with CSDHs.

Using the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines, eligible studies reported up to September 2019 were identified through a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central. Pooled estimates, confidence intervals (CIs), and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for all outcomes.

Ten studies with 3169 patients were included. The use of a SPD after CSDH burr hole drainage resulted in a significant decrease in recurrences compared with the use of a SDD (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.92; I², 14%; P = 0.007). No significant differences were identified between the SPD and SDD groups in the favorable outcomes (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1-1.68; I², 0%; P = 0.05). Adverse event rates, including mortality, seizures, and surgical infection, were not significantly different between the 2 groups. However, the use of SPDs was associated with a lower risk of parenchymal injuries compared with SDDs (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.76; I², 0%; P = 0.01).

The results from the present meta-analysis suggest that the use of an SPD is safer and might be more effective than an SDD in the treatment of CSDH. However, more large randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the use of SPDs in the management of CSDH.