Influence of basal cisterns, midline shift and pathology on outcome in head injury

The relationship of outcome to the basal cisterns, midline shift and pathology as seen on initial CT scan was assessed in 107 moderate and severe head injured patients. The mortality rates were 82 cases (76%) and 29 cases (27%) among those with obliterated and normal basal cisterns, and 74 cases (69%) and 42 cases (39%) when the midline shift was present and absent, respectively. The state of the cisterns and midline shift was correlated with the type of intracranial pathology and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. The state of the cisterns and midline shift was more important for those with single contusions and intra-cerebral haematoma (ICH) than for those with multiple lesions, extradural haematoma, subdural haematoma, diffuse cerebral oedema and normal CT scan. The state of the above two parameters when correlated with GCS score, showed that they were important for those with higher GCS scores. This indicates that the status of the cisterns and midline shift is correlated with the type of pathology and GCS score rather than these parameters taken alone in prediction.