OBJECTIVETo explore the types and clinical characteristics of traumatic subdural hydroma (TSH).

METHODOne hundred and ninety-two cases of TSH were classified into four types: The types of resolution, steadiness, development and evolution on the basis of their clinical characteristics and dynamic observation of CT scanning.

RESULTSThe patients in the resolution type often occurred in the prime of life. They had normal intracranial pressure and good prognoses using the conservative therapy. The majority of the elderly patients was in the steadiness type. Their main clinical manifestations included headache, dizziness, nausea, vomit, abnormal mentality and so on. Generally, there was no positive nervous systemic sign related to TSH. The prognoses of patients with the steadiness type treated by conservative therapy were satisfactory. The development type was common in the babies and children. This was mainly manifested as progressive increased intracranial pressure, mild hemiplegia, aphasia and abnormal mentality. The patients with development type often needed surgical treatment and might die once in a while due to accompanying cerebral parenchymal damage or postoperative complications. The evolution type was characterized by the polarized age, chronic increased intracranial pressure, often happening between 22 and 100 days after TSH and in the cases of small hydromas treated conservatively and mild accompanying cerebral damage, which always have a good prognosis by the treatment of surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe mechanism, clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognoses varied with different types of TSH.