We present a rare case of traumatic acute subdural hematoma (SDH) in which intracranial
hypotension (IC) secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage at the lumbar spine
caused delayed neurological deterioration. A 70-year-old male sustained a head injury
after ground-level fall and was brought to our institution. A brain computed tomography
(CT) showed a thin acute SDH with mild brain shift, and conservative management was
initiated. He exhibited neurological deterioration on the 9th hospital day, however, and a brain CT showed a change in CT density and marked an
increase in hematoma volume and brain shift. It was thought that conversion from acute
to subacute SDH was associated with the deterioration, and emergency hematoma evacuation
was performed. Despite the surgery, neither clinical nor radiographical improvement
occurred. The lack of improvement pointed to the presence of underlying IC, and a
CT myelography revealed the dural sleeve of the right L2 nerve root as the source
of the CSF leakage. An epidural blood patch therapy was performed on the 12th hospital day to seal the CSF leakage. The postprocedural course was uneventful, and
the patient was discharged free of symptoms on the 20th hospital day. Spinal CSF leakage should be considered as a cause of delayed neurological
deterioration in patients with traumatic acute SDH which exhibits conversion to subacute
SDH.
Key-words:
Acute subdural hematoma - cerebrospinal fluid leakage - intracranial hypotension -
lumbar spine - subacute subdural hematoma