Burr Hole Evacuation of Extradural Hematoma in Mass Trauma. A Life Saving and Time Saving Procedure: Our Experience in the Earthquake of 2005.

AIM: To observe the outcome of burr hole evacuation of extradural hematoma (EDH) in mass head injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included patients of any age who sustained head injury in the earthquake of October 8, 2005, were diagnosed as EDH on computed tomography (CT) scan and were admitted in the neurosurgery ward over a period of 3 days. All patients were followed by serial CT scans and neurological assessments.

RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were included in this study. There were 25 male and 11 female patients and the age range was from 5 years to 50 years. All cases were the victim of the earthquake. All patients underwent surgery for evacuation of EDH through a single burr hole. One patient required craniotomy for EDH due to neurological deterioration on the second postoperative day, and 1 patient died.

CONCLUSION: As EDH is potentially fatal lesion, evacuation of EDH through a single burr hole has good outcome with less chances of recurrence and complications in mass head injured patients as seen with earthquakes.