Risk factors for the development of hydrocephalus in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health issue, with 30% to 50% of patients developing post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH). This condition can elevate intracranial pressure, leading to headaches, vomiting, altered consciousness, and potentially coma or death, severely impacting quality of life. This study aims to systematically evaluate risk factors associated with PTH following TBI. The authors searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published from 2000 to 2024. Data extraction was standardized, and statistical analysis was performed using State 14.0 software. We assessed the risk of bias and compared patient characteristics, using fixed or random effects models to summarize PTH risk factors, calculating pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 25 studies involving 1,383,328 TBI patients met the inclusion criteria. Significant factors associated with an increased risk of PTH included decompressive craniectomy (DC) (p < 0.001), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (p = 0.016), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (p < 0.001), subdural hematoma (p < 0.001), postoperative meningitis (p = 0.027), external ventricular drainage (EVD) (p < 0.001), traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (p < 0.001), and epidural hematoma (p < 0.001). Age was not significantly correlated with PTH. Identifying these risk factors (DC, IVH, GCS, subdural hematoma, postoperative meningitis, external ventricular drainage, traumatic SAH, and epidural hematoma) highlights the importance of close monitoring in TBI patients. This approach aims to enable early identification of PTH and reduce its incidence, ultimately improving survival outcomes and long-term prognosis for TBI patients.