Extradural haematoma and diffuse axonal injury in victims of fatal road traffic accidents

• Published in: British journal of neurosurgery Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 123 - 126
• Main Authors: N. S. GUSMAO, S., PITTELLA, J. E. H.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Informa UK Ltd 01.04.1998; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Adolescent; Adult; Autopsies; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Brazil; Cause of Death; Coma; Coma - mortality; Coma - pathology; Diffuse Axonal Injury - mortality; Diffuse Axonal Injury - pathology; Fatalities; Head injuries; Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial - mortality; Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial - pathology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Key Words: Diffuse Axonal Injury, Extradural Haematoma, Head Injury, Road Traffic Accident; Male; Medical sciences; Neurology; Prognosis; Traffic accidents & safety; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Brazil; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Craniocerebral; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Traffic accident; Axon; Trauma; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Case study; Extradural; Central nervous system disease; Hematoma; Skull disease
• ISSN: 0268-8697; 1360-046X
• DOI: 10.1080/02688699845249

Seven cases of victims of road traffic accidents with extradural haematoma (EH) and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) are reported. Such cases are part of a total of 120 victims of fatal road traffic accidents that were subjected to pathological study. The association of the two lesions occurred in 5.8% of the patients and all cases of EH were associated with DAI. The latter explains the immediate coma (absence of lucid interval) and the grave prognosis for all seven patients. It was noted that EH is relatively infrequent in road traffic accidents, but in such cases it is more severe since it is frequently associated with DAI and immediate coma.