Posterior fossa epidural hematoma: A 6-year management experience

Objective: Through this study, we sought to evaluate the management of posterior fossa extradural hematoma (PFEDH).

Methods: An observational study was conducted at the Neurosurgery Department of Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar from January 2015 to December 2020. All patients who had a traumatic acute extradural hematoma (EDH) of the posterior fossa were included, irrespective of age and gender. The clinical predictors and outcomes were assessed, including the CT-scan findings and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score.

Results: A total of 104 cases with posterior fossa extradural hematoma were identified from 1252 extradural hematoma patients admitted during the study period. The mean age of the enrolled patients was 18.17 ± 14.31 years. Most of the patients were male (65.39%) and belonged to the pediatric age group, i.e., < 15 years (60.6%). CT scan brain was done in all the cases for diagnosis. In 68.3% of cases, an associated occipital bone fracture was observed. Surgery was done in almost 71.2% of cases, and most of the patients experienced good recovery after surgery, as indicated by the GOS score. Linear regression model revealed that treatment (β=-0.20, p=0.038), time duration between surgery and trauma (β=0.43, p=0.000) and GCS category (β=-0.47, p=0.000) were significantly associated with PFEDH outcomes.

Conclusion: In conclusion, PFEDH was frequent among males and the pediatric age group. Serial CT brain is highly recommended in all suspected cases for early diagnosis.