Delayed intracerebral haematomas in moderate to severe head injuries in young adults.

The incidence of delayed intracerebral haematoma formation in moderate to severely head-injured young adults who do not have signs of cerebral contusions on the initial post-trauma head CT scan has been studied. Thirty patients were reviewed and in 6 (20%) a delayed haematoma was diagnosed on a later CT scan, when signs of cerebral contusions were absent initially. Recurrence of intracranial hypertension within 3 to 4 h proved to be a significant indication for the development of these haematomas, despite the initial but inconsistent good response to osmotic diuretics. The average Glasgow outcome score was 3, including two mortalities. Cerebral perfusion pressure directly correlated with the outcome.