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A rare case is described of acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) following isolated mild head injury with acute subdural haematoma, coagulopathy onset preceding craniotomy. Surgical treatment of the cause followed by swift diagnosis and treatment soon after surgery enabled a good outcome. Post-operative recollection of subdural and extadural blood was treated by further surgery. DIC following isolated mild head injury without axonal damage is rare, but fatal if missed. Thrombocytopaenia in head injured patients should be investigated expediently. Post-operative interim imaging (if not standard practice) should also be considered to exclude haemorrhagic recollection requiring further surgery.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s00701-009-0258-9

Type

Journal article

Journal

Acta Neurochir (Wien)

Publication Date

11/2009

Volume

151

Pages

1521 - 1524

Keywords

Adult, Brain, Craniotomy, Decompression, Surgical, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Early Diagnosis, Emergency Medical Services, Head Injuries, Closed, Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial, Hematoma, Subdural, Acute, Humans, Male, Partial Thromboplastin Time, Plasma, Platelet Transfusion, Subdural Space, Thrombocytopenia, Thromboplastin, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Treatment Outcome, Violence