Transtentorial herniation is a fatal process after head injury, being caused by increased intracranial pressure secondary to the primary brain injury. Clinical findings are an depressed level of consciousness, abnormal motor responses, and absence of pupil reflexes and/or anisocoria. Through the early diagnosis and definitive treatment, functional recovery may be attained, otherwise death ensues.
In this retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and results of treatment of 97 traumatic transtentorial herniation patients. Age, pupil and motor examination findings, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), requirement for resuscitation at admission, and time to hospitalization were determined as significant parameters affecting the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and functional recovery.
Keywords: Head trauma, transtentorial herniation, epidural hematoma, intracerebral hematoma, subdural hematoma