Does the Size of Unilateral Decompressive Craniectomy Impact Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intracranial Mass Effect after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury?
Jinhwan Koo, Jeongjun Lee, Su Hwan Lee, Jung Hyeon Moon, Seung-Yeob Yang, Keun-Tae Cho
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is one of the treatment modalities in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), however, there was a lack of evidence for optimal craniectomy size. The authors aimed to investigate optimal DC size and analyze clinical outcome according to craniectomy size. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical data of 87 patients with a space occupying lesion following TBI who underwent unilateral DC. Craniectomy size was measured by anterior-posterior (AP) diameter and surface estimate (SE). Mortality, clinical outcome, and complications were collected and analyzed according to craniectomy size. RESULTS: =0.044). CONCLUSION: Unilateral DC size is associated with clinical outcome of patients with a space occupying lesion following severe TBI. Large craniectomy is needed for survival and favorable outcome.