Chronic subdural hematoma : the role for craniotomy reevaluated. Comments

THE MANAGEMENT OF chronic subdural hematoma in the adult patient is approached with a variety of different surgical techniques. The trend in recent years has been toward treatment with burr holes or twist-drill holes rather than craniotomy. The rationale for this has been based on the assumption that burr holes and twist-drill holes offer equivalent efficacy and lower morbidity and mortality. This viewpoint is not, however, universally accepted, and many surgeons feel that craniotomy is superior to a burr hole for the management of this condition. In a review of 92 patients presenting over a 3-year period with 112 chronic subdural hematomas, 49 underwent craniotomy and 43 underwent burr-hole treatment