Management and Outcomes of Traumatic Cerebral Venous Sinus Injury Among Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury and...

Traumatic cerebral venous sinus injury (tCVSI) is a rare but serious complication of traumatic brain injury. Although similar radiographically to spontaneous cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), tCVSI treatment approaches have not been fully investigated. We characterized complications, clinical outcomes, and recanalization in tCVSI and evaluated treatment approaches.

In this retrospective review of patients with radiographically confirmed tCVSI across 3 Level 1 trauma centers from 2018 to 2024, we collected patient characteristics, injury patterns, treatment modalities, complications, clinical outcomes, and recanalization data. Primary outcomes were favorable recovery (extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≥5) and 30-day mortality. Multivariate regression identified independent predictors of outcomes and recanalization.

Among 11 300 patients screened, 254 (2.2%) had tCVSI. Antiplatelet (AP) and anticoagulation (AC) therapy were used in 32% and 19% of patients, respectively. Hemorrhagic complications occurred in 31% of patients treated with AC and 10% receiving AP. Favorable outcomes were achieved in 73.9% of patients, and 30-day mortality was 12.6%. On multivariate analysis, AP (odds ratio [OR] 6.5, 95% CI 2.1-20.0) and AC (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.3-17.7) therapies were both associated with better outcomes. AP therapy was independently associated with lower 30-day mortality (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.06-0.66). At the follow-up, 39.9% of patients had complete recanalization of the involved sinus, 17.5% had partial recanalization, and 42.7% were unchanged. Recanalization status on repeat imaging did not correlate with clinical outcomes.

This multicenter series demonstrates treatment response in patients after tCVSI and describes differences in natural history compared with spontaneous CVST. Both antithrombotic regimens were associated with favorable outcomes, and AP therapy was independently associated with lower mortality, suggesting a potential role in tCVSI management. Recanalization status at follow-up appeared unrelated to clinical outcomes, supporting the need for unique therapeutic approaches for tCVSI compared with spontaneous CVST, particularly in the acute management period.