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Scoping review of the risk factors and time frame for development of post-traumatic hydrocephalus

  • Emily M. Hannah EMAIL logo , Stephanie Zyck , Ali Hazama and Satish Krishnamurthy
Published/Copyright: June 18, 2021
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Reviews in the Neurosciences
From the journal Reviews in the Neurosciences Volume 33 Issue 2

Abstract

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) may develop within or beyond the acute phase of recovery. Recognition and subsequent treatment of this condition leads to improved neurologic outcomes. In this scoping review, we identify statistically significant demographic, clinical, radiographic, and surgical risk factors as well as a predictive time frame for the onset of PTH in order to facilitate timely diagnosis. Two researchers independently performed a scoping review of the PubMed and Cochrane databases for articles relevant to risk factors for PTH. Articles that met inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent qualitative analysis. Twenty-seven articles were reviewed for statistically significant risk factors and a proposed time frame for the onset of PTH. Variables that could serve as proxies for severe brain injuries were identified as risk factors. The most commonly identified risk factors included either very young or old age, intracranial hemorrhage including intraventricular hemorrhage, hygroma, and need for decompressive craniectomy. Although the timeframe for diagnosis of PTH varied widely from within one week to 31.5 months after injury, the first 50 days were more likely. Established risk factors and timeframe for PTH development may assist clinicians in the early diagnosis of PTH after TBI. Increased consistency in diagnostic criterion and reporting of PTH may improve recognition with early treatment of this condition in order to improve outcomes.

Keywords: decompressive craniectomy; hydrocephalus; post-traumatic hydrocephalus; risk factors; traumatic brain injury
Corresponding author: Emily M. Hannah, Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington DC, 20052, USA, Phone: +315 663 1535, E-mail:

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2021-03-17
Accepted: 2021-05-21
Published Online: 2021-06-18
Published in Print: 2022-02-23

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/revneuro-2021-0043
Keywords for this article
decompressive craniectomy; hydrocephalus; post-traumatic hydrocephalus; risk factors; traumatic brain injury

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Cell assembly formation and structure in a piriform cortex model
  3. Scoping review of the risk factors and time frame for development of post-traumatic hydrocephalus
  4. Triangle of cytokine storm, central nervous system involvement, and viral infection in COVID-19: the role of sFasL and neuropilin-1
  5. New insights into neural networks of error monitoring and clinical implications: a systematic review of ERP studies in neurological diseases
  6. Metabolomics and metabolites in ischemic stroke
  7. Post-stroke recrudescence—a possible connection to autoimmunity?
  8. Neuroplasticity mediated by motor rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review on structural and functional MRI markers
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