[Traumatic intracranial haematomas (author's transl)].

Based on 9,000 craniocerebral traumas with 1,271 intracranial haematomas [Giessen General Surgery (n = 291) 1942-1974, Giessen Neurosurgery (n = 980) 1953-1974] distribution, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of traumatic haematoma has been discussed. Among 26% of the haematomas, 6.4% were extradural, 17.2% were subdural, and 2.4% were intracerebral. Mortality has decreased from 84% in the 1940's to 40% in the last decades; the least decrease (64%) being among the intracerebral haematomas. Distribution, site and size, symptomatology, and special diagnostic procedures were reported for the different types and forms of haematomas. Computer-tomography has proved to be the most decisive progress for the diagnosis, indication, timely and appropriate surgery, and follow up. The most important reasons for the still unfavourable results are lack of sufficient experience among general surgeons and traumatologists, the lack of computer-tomographs, and the need for separate clinical and angiographic diagnosis.