EXTRADURAL HEMATOMA PREVALENCE IN PATIENTS HAVING HEAD INJURIES AND SKULL FRACTURES

Abstract

Background: The fusing of several flat bones joined by cranial sutures results in the formation of the skull. Every flat bone consists of an inner table made up of dense fibrous Dura mater, an outside table, and a spongy diploe. The fragile arachnoid mater covering the inner surface of the brain is divided from the inner Dura surface by a thin subdural gap. When there is a trauma, like a direct hit, a car accident, or a fall, the continuity of the skull bone is broken, resulting in a skull fracture. It is predicted that 10 to 20 percent of patients who suffer head injuries may develop an extradural hematoma. After a head trauma, about 17% of the previously conscious individuals may go into a coma as a result of the formation of an extradural hematoma. According to research, 8.53% of instances with head injuries revealed an extradural hematoma, while 31.09% of cases had skull fractures.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of extradural hematoma in patients having head injuries and skull fractures

Study design: A cross-sectional study

Place and Duration: This study was conducted in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi from Feburary 2023 to February 2024

Methodology: With a 95% confidence level, the study used the WHO sample size calculator to calculate the minimum sample size that was 350. Patients of any gender between the ages of 16 and 80 years who had head injuries within the previous 24 hours and an x-ray showing they had a fractured skull met the inclusion criteria. A total of 350 patients who fit this description were taken from the Emergency Ward. CT scans were used on patients with head injuries and verified skull fractures to check for extradural hematomas, which are defined as blood clots between the dura mater of the brain and the inner table of the skull. X-ray imaging was used to identify skull fractures.

Results: There were a total of 350 individuals enrolled in this research. The study included 80% males (n=280) and 20% females (n=70). The average age of the individuals was 41.32 years. The mean duration of the injury was 6.38 hours. Majority of the patients (n=108) had a depressed type of skull fracture. There were 113 patients who were diagnosed with extradural hematoma.

 Conclusion: Even though this study indicated a low frequency of extradural hematoma in patients with head injuries, timely CT scan screening is still necessary to identify cerebral bleeding early and avert complications and death linked to traumatic head injuries.