Very early hypothermia induction in patients with severe brain injury (the National Acute Brain Injury Study: Hypothermia II): a randomised trial.

Background: The inconsistent effect of hypothermia treatment on severe brain injury in previous trials might be because hypothermia was induced too late after injury. We aimed to assess whether very early induction of hypothermia improves outcome in patients with severe brain injury.

Methods: The National Acute Brain Injury Study: Hypothermia II (NABIS: H II) was a randomised, multicentre clinical trial of patients with severe brain injury who were enrolled within 2·5 h of injury at six sites in the USA and Canada.

Growing skull fracture in a 5-month old child: a case report.

Growing skull fractures are a rare complication of linear skull fractures in children. The authors report a case of a growing skull fracture in a 5-month-old patient with a review of the literature. CT and MRI scans revealed a growing skull fracture with complication of leptomeningeal cyst formation.

Induced moderate hypothermia for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury: West Virginia's first research case.

The role of hypothermia in the improvement of outcomes among patients suffering severe head injury remains controversial. The "National Acute Brain Injury Study: Hypothermia (NABIS:H)" is a series of prospective trials trying to determine if this therapy provides a beneficial effect. This report describes the case of a patient ejected from a motor vehicle, who presented with a decreased level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale of 5).

Use of hinge craniotomy for cerebral decompression. Technical note.

Decompressive craniectomy to relieve cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension due to traumatic brain injury is a generally accepted practice; however, the procedure remains controversial because of its uncertain effects on outcome, specific complications such as the syndrome of the sinking skin flap, and the need for subsequent cranioplasty. The authors developed a novel craniotomy technique using titanium bone plates in a hinged fashion, which maintains cerebral protection while reducing postoperative complications and eliminating subsequent cranioplasty procedures. The authors conducted a retrospective review of data obtained in all consecutive patients who had undergone posttraumatic cerebral decompression craniotomy using the hinge technique at a Level I trauma facility between 1990 and 2004.