Burr Hole Evacuation of Extradural Hematoma in Mass Trauma, a Life Saving and Time Saving Procedure: Our Experience in Earth Quake of Oct 8th, 2005

Background: Traumatic brain injury represents a significant cause of mortality and permanent disability in the adult population. Extradural hematoma is one of the conditions most strongly associated with severe brain injury. Knowledge on the natural history of the illness and the outcomes of patients surgically managed may help the neurosurgeon in the decision-making process.Objective: To observe the outcome of burr hole evacuation of extradural hematoma in mass head injury.Methods: This study included patients of any age who sustained head injury in the earth quake of October 8th, 2005. Who has been diagnosed as a case of extradural hematoma on CT-Scan and has been admitted in the neurosurgery ward presenting over a period of 3 days (8th October 2005 to12th October 2005). Patients with any other associated intracranial abnormalities, such as cerebral contusions, as shown on CT, were excluded from this study. All patients were followed by serial CT scanning, and neurological assessments.Results: A total of 36 patients were included in this study. There were 25 male and 11 female patients with age ranges from 5 years to 50 years. All cases were the victim of earth quake. All patients underwent surgery for evacuation of extradural hematoma through a single burr hole. 1 patient required craniotomy for extradural hematoma due to neurological deterioration on the second postoperative day, and 1 patient died.Conclusion: From this study we concluded that as extradural hematoma is potentially fatal lesion, so in mass head injured patients like in earth quakes, evacuation of extradural hematoma through a single burr hole has good outcome with less chances of recurrence and complications