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Delayed bilateral craniectomy for treatment of traumatic brain swelling in children: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Introduction

Head injury is the leading cause of accidental death in children. Recent reports have shown the benefit of decompressive craniectomy in children and the role of early timing has been emphasized. However, there is still a lack of data to determine the optimal time for performing craniectomy.

Case report

In contrast to most reports in the literature, this case report demonstrates successful bilateral decompressive craniectomy in a 10-year-old girl with multiple posttraumatic intracranial lesions and massive traumatic brain swelling on the 8th posttraumatic day.

Conclusions

Various pathophysiological mechanisms in the genesis of posttraumatic brain swelling make different treatment strategies necessary. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP), as well as serial cranial computed tomography (CCT), can help to differentiate between these mechanisms. Furthermore, repeated clinical and neurophysiological investigations are important for the timing of craniectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Joseph Stelzmann-Strasse 9, 50924, Cologne, Germany

    Thomas Reithmeier, Bernhard Speder, Paul Pakos, Gerret Brinker, Mario Löhr, Norfrid Klug & Ralf-Ingo Ernestus

Authors
  1. Thomas Reithmeier
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  2. Bernhard Speder
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  3. Paul Pakos
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  4. Gerret Brinker
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  5. Mario Löhr
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  6. Norfrid Klug
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  7. Ralf-Ingo Ernestus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Reithmeier.

Additional information

A commentary on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-1045-9

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Reithmeier, T., Speder, B., Pakos, P. et al. Delayed bilateral craniectomy for treatment of traumatic brain swelling in children: case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 21, 249–253 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-1044-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-1044-x

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