Clinical features and risk factors for delayed rupture of traumatic cerebral aneurysm: A case series

Traumatic cerebral aneurysms (TA) are a subset of traumatic cerebrovascular injury (TCVI). Misdiagnosis of TA can be fatal. To investigate factors that predict TA formation and the optimal timing for searching, we present four suspected cases of delayed TA rupture during hospitalization.

Medical records of head injury cases to have delayed TA rupture during hospitalization between April 2021 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the four patients included, only one met the TCVI screening criteria. All the patients had acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) on arrival; two had delayed expansion of the traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) on repeat imaging. All the patients received anticoagulants. Ruptured TA occurred between days 5 and 11. Three patients died during hospitalization.

It is advisable to suspect TA when imaging studies show ASDH on admission and intracranial hematoma expansion during hospitalization. We suggest TA screening around day 5.