Pathognostic findings of primary injuries on the brain stem

Objective To investigate the features of primary injuries on the brain stem. Methods 171 cases of primary injuries on the brain stem were chosen as experimental group, 50 cases died of other causes without injuries of the brain stem were chosen as control group. Horizontal slices of the brain stem were taken at the roots of cranial nerves, and tissue sections were stained by HE, Results In the experimental group, contusions were observed at the superficial (32. 7% - 55. 6% ) or inner (57. 9% - 86. 0% ) portions of the brain stem. Injuries were detected at the roots of oculomotor (70. 2% ) , facial and acoustic (53.8%) and trigeminal (49.7%) nerves with responsive hypertrophic astrocytes (34.5%-57.3%). Perivascular spaces enlarged, which represented interstitial edema (19.3%-57.3%). Compared with control group, the percentages of contusions of the brain stem, injuries at the roots of cranial nerves and responsive hypertrophic astrocytes were statistically significant (P 0. 001). Conclusion The appearance of contusion at the periphery or inner of brain stem, trauma of cranial nerves roots, responsive hypertrophy of astrocytes may serve as the evidences of primary injuries on the brain stem.