Key-words:
Computed tomography - epidural hematoma - spontaneous resolution
Introduction
An epidural hematoma is an emergency which is never neglected by any neurosurgeon
all around the world. It is probably the most common emergency encountered by a neurosurgeon.
For an epidural hematoma with significant mass effect, surgical evacuation is the
standard norm. Hematomas without mass effect can be watched closely, and a call is
taken regarding surgery. The neurological status of the patient and the volume of
the hematoma are considered, and emergency craniotomy and evacuation are also taken
up. Spontaneous resolution of hematomas has been reported in the past, which usually
takes days to weeks. We have come across an epidural hematoma which showed rapid spontaneous
resolution within 7 h of the injury.
Case Report
A 20-year-old male patient, with an alleged history of accidental fall from a height
of about 20 feet, presented to the emergency department on May 30, 2018. Initially,
he was taken to a local hospital where computed tomography of the head was done which
revealed an extra-axial hyperdense collection of hemorrhagic attenuation with few
air pockets within and along the right parietal and anterior temporal convexity with
mass effect in the form of compression of right lateral ventricle and minimal midline
shift to left [[Figure 1]]b and [[Figure 2]] along with fracture of right parietal bone extending up to squamous and mastoid
parts of right temporal bone [[Figure 1]]a. Hemorrhage was noted along the falx. The initial scan was done at a primary center
where no neurosurgeon was available, and hence, he was shifted to our tertiary care
center 7 h after the initial scan. On general examination, the patient was in a state
of unconsciousness, with stable vital signs. Right otorrhagia was noted which can
be attributed to the fracture described above. On neurological examination, Glasgow
Coma Scale score was E1V2M3, and anisocoria was noted with right pupil size of 5 mm
and left pupil size of 2 mm. Both pupils were sluggishly reacting to light. The patient
was intubated and a computed tomography of the brain was repeated which, to our astonishment,
revealed no epidural hematoma but showed hemorrhage along the falx, and the same fracture
details described above and an increased epicranial soft-tissue thickening were also
noted [[Figure 1]]c and [[Figure 3]]. Another scan was taken after 4 h, and no change in the status was noted. After
2 days of admission and intensive neurological care, the patient succumbed to sudden
cardiopulmonary arrest due to ventricular arrhythmias.
Figure 1: (a) The fracture in the temporal bone, (b) the epidural hematoma, and (c) the absence
of epidural hematoma along with a corresponding increase in the epicranial hematoma
Figure 2: The initial scan was done at a rural center where no neurosurgeon was available,
showing a large epidural hematoma approximately 60 ml in volume
Figure 3: The second scan done at our tertiary care center, showing the resolution of epidural
hematoma
The initial intention was not to go for a conservative management. However, the first
scan was done at a rural center where no neurosurgeon was available and hence referred
to our hospital which is a tertiary care center. By the time the patient reached us,
it was almost 6–7 h since the first scan was taken. Hence, an emergency repeat scan
was done to assess the current status and take up for surgery, which, to our astonishment,
revealed a resolution of the epidural hematoma. Moreover, this changed our plan of
management from surgical to conservative.
Discussion
Conservative management for epidural hematoma has been proposed by few authors in
selected patients with small hematomas and intact neurological status with the availability
of close monitoring along with repeated computed tomography scans. In general, the
epidural hematoma results from a complicated form of skull bending, generally from
a fracture. In this case, dural vessels are torn as the fracture propagates and travels
past a vessel. The mechanical failure of these vessels can also occur without fracture,
in as much as skull deformation and bending may be sufficient to cause vascular tears.
Spontaneous resolution of epidural hematomas has varying theories. Some of those include
the transfer of the clot into the diploic spaces of the overlying bone, clot getting
evacuated itself into the extracranial space through a fracture, and granulation tissue
acting as an absorbing structure through sinusoid vessels. Elevated intracranial pressure
creates a pressure gradient between epidural hematoma and epicranial soft tissues
so that hematoma is forced out of epidural space through fracture line. Although there
are few cases which were reported without a fracture.[[1]] Malek et al.[[2]] proposed another theory that it may be due to an elevated epicranial subgaleal
interstitial pressure after injury, in which extracranial blood could seep into epidural
space through a fracture due to a pressure difference. When interstitial subgaleal
pressure decreased, blood leaks back. This process described by Malek et al. typically
takes about 18 h, which does not hold good for cases which show much earlier resolutions.
In our case, the time lag between the first and second scans was just 6 h, and the
second scan showed near-complete resolution of a 60 ml epidural hematoma. The initial
cases of spontaneous resolutions of epidural hematomas were described by Weaver et
al.[[3]] The literature research reveals nine pediatric cases [[4]],[[5]] and five adult cases.[[6]] The oldest patient reported in the literature was 65 years.[[7]] Bullock et al. reported that epidural hematoma <30 ml with <15 mm thickness and
with <5 mm midline shift in patients with a Glasgow Coma Score >8 without focal deficit
could be managed nonoperatively with serial computed tomographic scanning and close
observation.[[8]] In our case [[Table 1]], we repeated a scan when the patient presented to us in the emergency just for
a double confirmation before shifting the patient for emergency craniotomy and evacuation,
and to our surprise, we found a near-total resolution, due to which we had to change
our plan of management from a surgical one to conservative. Another scan was done
4 h later which revealed no change from the second scan, and we planned to continue
our line of conservative management.
Table 1: Previous case reports of spontaneous EDH resolution and their duration to resorption
Conclusion
Repeat computed tomography scans are often neglected in an obvious case of surgically
correctable pathology. A confirmation scan just before a final call for surgery is
taken is of utmost importance, especially in cases of traumatic brain injuries, where
a neurosurgeon's swift actions decide the prognosis of a patient. In cases of epidural
hematomas, rapid intervention is of utmost importance to prevent cerebral herniation.
However, rarely, we may come across cases where there is rapid spontaneous resolution
of the hematoma, thus altering our initial plans completely. Hence, one final repeat
scan should be done, especially in cases which are referred from other centers. This
scan acts as a first-hand confirmation scan, and any change of management plans can
be considered thereafter.[[10]]
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms.
In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their
images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients
understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will
be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
