Traumatic hematomas of the posterior fossa. A clinicopathological spectrum.

Eight patients were found to have traumatic hematomas of the posterior fossa during a 6-year period. There were four patients with extradural hematomas, one patient with a subdural hematoma, and four patients with intracerebellar hematomas. In one patient, clinically significant hematomas were found both in the extradural space and in the cerebellum. Clinical or radiologic evidence of skull fracture was present in each case, and computed tomography scans were diagnostic of a posterior fossa hematoma in all cases. In six of the eight patients, there was clinical deterioration prior to surgical treatment, and in three cases, this was abrupt. All patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Six patients survived; four made a good recovery. Our experience indicates that early operation is usually indicated for these lesions.