[Post-traumatic intracerebral hematoma].

Fifty-five cases of post-traumatic intracerebral haematomas are analyzed, discussing the diagnostic value of such preliminary methods as plain skull films, EEG, echoencephalography. These methods, together with clinical findings make the diagnosis of intracerebral haematoma likely. The final diagnosis was based on carotid arteriography and computerized tomography of the brain, which provided additional information on traumatic brain damage. The diagnostic sensitivity of CT was higher. The considerable prognostic importance of the degree of consciousness disturbances and their duration is stressed. In the group of patients with lucidum intervallum the mortality was higher. Four patients were treated conservatively since CT demonstrated in them only small haematomas without displacement of the ventricles. The remaining patients were treated surgically removing the haematomas through craniotomy or craniectomy. In 54% of these cases improvement was obtained. The 33% mortality was moderate as compared with previous reports.