Contribution to the surgical treatment of acute supratentorial subdural haematomas.

Acute traumatic subdural haematoma suspected of extending over an entire hemisphere must be treated with all speed. To obviate unnecessary skin incisions and subsequent craniectomies and craniotomies during the operation, we think it advantageous to plan a series of burrholes at set points in order to; a) begin to clear the haematoma; b) assess its extent and possible origin; c) decide whether a hemicranial or smaller craniotomy is called for.