Post-traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in an intensive care unit: A case series of ten patients.

Post-traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is one of the several causes of cerebral venous thrombosis, but its early diagnosis and management are still difficult in this traumatic context. Our objective is to describe clinical and radiological presentations and to report specific management and outcomes of this rare post-traumatic complication. We reported in this manuscript a case series of 10 patients hospitalized in the intensive care department with post-traumatic cerebral venous thrombosis. Demographic, clinical, and radiological data and their medical management are reported. The incidence of post-traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in our institution was 4.2%. Cerebral thrombophlebitis was diagnosed incidentally on the initial body scan, on ICU admission in five patients. The left or right lateral sinus was affected in four patients; the sigmoid sinus was affected in 6 patients. Five patients had a thrombosis in the jugular vein. Seven patients had 2 or 3 sites of occlusion. All patients had medical treatment. No hemorrhagic complications were reported. The total duration of anticoagulation was available in 5 cases. A follow-up of MRI or CT scan at 3 months revealed complete sinus recanalization in three patients. Post-traumatic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the intensive care department remains underdiagnosed because of the common clinical presentation of traumatic brain injury. Its incidence is increasing because of the increase in high-velocity accidents. And, it seems necessary to conduct prospective studies with a large cohort of patients in the intensive care department.