[Computer tomography in the diagnosis of craniocerebral injuries]

The work is based on the analysis of computer tomographic findings in 196 patients (children and adults) with closed craniocerebral injury of different severity. The authors give a more precise definition of the tomographic characteristics of the different forms of craniocerebral damages and the dynamics of changes in the acute and subacute periods after the injury. Three types of intracerebral hematomas are distinguished according to the mechanism of their origin, location, and extent. The tomographic signs of cerebral contusion are systematized. The forms of traumatic edema-swelling of the brain are described according to the results of tomodensitometry. The rarity of hydrocephalus in the acute period is pointed out. Hydrocephalus was caused by dislocation of the cerebral structures with compression of the c.s.f. passages or their occlusion in intraventricular hemorrhages. The tomographic characteristics of chronic subdural hematomas are given. It is shown that dynamic tomographic control in patients with severe craniocerebral injury makes it possible to limit treatment to nonoperative measures in some cases with different forms of brain contusion and small intracerebral hematomas.