Role of coagulopathy in patients with head trauma.

Coagulation disorders are a well known complication in patients with head injuries. A prospective study was undertaken to determine the incidence and prognostic value of haemostatic abnormalities in this group of patients. Clotting mechanisms in 105 patients with an isolated head injury were evaluated using platelet count (PC), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APPT), thrombin clotting time (TCT), plasma fibrinogen concentration (Fib), level of fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and increased consumptive coagulopathy grade (ICCG) in the first 24 h after injury.

Surgical treatment of acute subdural hygroma in children.

During the years 1967-1984, 91 children were operated on because of acute compressive traumatic intracranial hematoma: 16 (17%) had traumatic acute subdural hygromas. These were unilateral in 12 cases and bilateral in 4. The causes of injury were traffic accidents in 11 children, a fall in 1, and acute deceleration injuries in 5.

[Voluminous intraventricular hydatid cysts in children].

During the last 10 years (1973-1982), we have surgically treated 9 children for large echinococcus cysts with intraventricular localization. In 7 cases the cysts were localized in lateral ventricles and in 2 cases in IVth ventricle and cerebellum. The children were from 3 to 11 years old.