Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Decompressive Ipsilateral Craniectomy for Traumatic Acute Epidural Hematoma

Although craniotomy provides a more complete evacuation of the acute epidural hematoma, there are insufficient data to support specific surgical treatment method. We aim to perform a multi-center, parallel-group randomized clinical trial to compare the outcome and cost-effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy versus craniotomy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury patients with cerebral herniation undergoing evacuation of an acute epidural hematoma.

The incidence of epidural hematoma (EDH) among traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients has been reported to be in the range of 2.7 to 4%. Among patients in coma, up to 9% harbored an EDH requiring craniotomy. The mortality in patients in all age groups and GCS scores undergoing surgery for evacuation of EDH is approximately 10%. The decision to operate on an acute EDH (AEDH) is usually based on the patient's GCS score, age, pupillary abnormalities, comorbidities, CT findings, associated intracranial lesions, in delayed decisions, the time between neurological deterioration and surgery, and intracranial pressure. An AEDH greater than 30 ml should be surgically evacuated regardless of the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. There are insufficient data to support one surgical treatment method. However, craniotomy provides a more complete evacuation of the hematoma for patients with an AEDH that require an operation to remove the clot. But whether decompressive craniectomy (DC) should be employed still has considerable controversy. The choice of operative technique is influenced by the surgeon's expertise, training, and evaluation of a particular situation. The difference between these two procedures is that a bone flap is left out before closing the skin in DC. Both approaches are widely used among neurological surgeons (although the indications may differ), therefore there is sufficient experience in the centers to set up a randomized clinical trial.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clear medical history of traumatic brain injury;
2. Within 12 hours after injury;
3. Unilateral mydriasis or bilateral mydriasis before the operation;
4. Supratentorial acute epidural hematoma on CT scan with midline shift, which is the leading cause of operation, despite associated other lighter intracranial injury (e.g., subarachnoid hemorrhage and contusion);
5. The admitting neurosurgeon considers that the epidural hematoma needs to be evacuated with a craniotomy or decompressive craniectomy.
6. With informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous intracranial surgery prior to trauma;
2. Patients with a score of 3 on the GCS, with bilateral fixed and dilated pupils, bleeding diathesis or defective coagulation, or other injuries that were deemed to be unsurvivable;
3. Patients who had injury of the oculomotor nerve;
4. Patients are considered to be operated mainly by following pathological change on CT: subdural hematoma, intracerebral hemorrhage, large size infarction, et al., but not because of epidural hematoma;
5. Severe pre-existing disability or severe co-morbidity which would lead to a poor outcome even if the patient is supposed to a good recovery from the TBI;
6. Pregnant female.