Acute subdural hematomas. Review of 144 cases.

The authors report 144 cases in which acute subdural hematomas resulting from closed head injury were surgically treated. The mortality rate was 48% for those treated within 24 hours of injury and 45% for those treated within 72 hours. Patients under 10 years of age had a 33% mortality, while 69% of those over 60 years died. In the first 6 years of the series, 75% of the patients were treated by multiple burr holes and a subtemporal craniectomy, with a mortality of 41% in the last 6 years, 92% of the patients had large craniotomies with a 45% mortality. Of the 32 survivors among the last 60 patients treated, nine require full nursing home care, eight have returned to their own homes, 12 are able to care for themselves but not work, and three have returned to work.