Study on risk factors of progressive intracranial hemorrhage after head trauma

Objective To investigate the incidence, risk factors of progressive intracranial hemorrhage (PIH) after head trauma. Methods The diagnosis of PIH was determined by comparing the first and second CT scans. Potential risk factors, such as sex, age, body temperature, blood pressure, contra coup injury and the time interval from injury to the first CT were analyzed. Results In a cohort of 183 patients, PIH was found in 79 patients(43. 17% ) after the second scan, and 46 patients(23. 5% ) , hence underwent craniotomy for hematoma evacuation. Conclusion Progressive hemorrhage occurs in almost 50% of head-injured patients with intracranial hemorrhage, it occurs most frequently in male sex, older age, contra coup injury, and patients who had shorter periods from injury to the first CT scan and higher blood pressure. Early repeated CT scan is very important in those patients with non-detectable hemorrhage on the first CT scan when they showed deteriorating consciousness.