Traumatic Subdural Empyema – A Rare Neurosurgical Emergency: Case Report and Review of Literature

Authors

  • Yaser-ud-Din Hoti Department of Neurosurgery Unit II Lahore General Hospital,
  • AMIR AZIZ Department of Neurosurgery Unit II Lahore General Hospital,
  • KHURRAM ISHAQUE Department of Neurosurgery Unit II Lahore General Hospital,
  • Abid Khattak Department of Neurosurgery Unit II Lahore General Hospital,
  • Bashir Ahmed Khan Department of Neurosurgery Unit II Lahore General Hospital,

Keywords:

Subdural empyema,, mortality rate,, radiological sign,, non-contrast CT scan.

Abstract

Subdural empyema is a neurosurgical emergency with potentially overwhelming complications. The prognosis is harmfully affected when early diagnosis is not made. Recent advancement in the imaging techniques, especially contrast enhanced CT Scans and MRI Scans, have improved the precision of radiological diagnosis of this condition, along with reduction in the mortality rate. Regardless of this, there may still be an impediment in diag-nosis, partly due to the subtleness of early radiological signs, especially on non-contrast CT Scan. We present a case report which illustrates some of the radiological manifestations, complications, potential pitfalls in diagnosis and treatment of traumatic subdural empyema.
Conclusion: Patient of severe head injury not improving with pharmacotherapy should get a repeat C.T Scan vault to look for delayed hematomas or empyema. Urgent diagnosis and prompt evacuation along with proper anti-biotic therapy can improve the survival of patient having traumatic subdural empyema.

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Published

2018-09-30

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2013): July-December

Section

Original Articles

License

The work published by PJNS is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Copyrights on any open access article published by Pakistan Journal of Neurological Surgery are retained by the author(s).