Evacuation of traumatic intracerebral haematomas using a simplified stereotactic procedure.

The authors present a series of 37 traumatic intracerebral haematomas (ICH) evacuated by a simplified stereotactic surgical procedure. The mortality rate was 80% in patients with Glasgow coma scale (G.C.S.) scores of 3-5 and 25% in patients with scores of 6-7. There were no deaths in patients with G.C.S. of 8 or more. With the exception of the first group of patients, the results were better than those achieved by wide craniotomy. The importance of reduced operative trauma in patients with ICH, which often are associated with multifocal or diffuse brain injuries, are discussed.