Risk factors for the development of posttraumatic hydrocephalus after unilateral decompressive craniectomy in patients with traumatic brain injury

Abstract Decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been performed increasingly to control medically refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although DC is a potentially life-saving procedure and technically straightforward, it is associated with some significant complications that include subdural hygroma (SDG) and posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH). A retrospective analysis of 143 TBI patients who underwent unilateral DC was undertaken to investigate the incidence and risk factors of PTH and investigate the relationship between the types of SDG and PTH. Among these patients, the incidence of PTH was 30.1%. SDG was noted in 25 patients (58.1%) who developed PTH. SDG was noted in 27 patients (27%) without PTH. The patients with PTH had a significantly unfavorable outcome ( p p  = 0.004, odds ratio [OR] = 1.036, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.011–1.061) and contralateral SDG ( p