Head-Growth Pattern and Cerebral Ventricular Size in Infants with Subdural Hygroma. A Pre- and Postoperative Evaluation

Abstract

The pre- and postoperative changes in head circumference and head growth-rate pattern were determined, and changes in ventricular size were measured by echoventriculography in ten infants with subdural hygroma. A preoperative increase in the size of the head had occurred in seven of the patients and enlargement of the ventricular system in eight. In the first two postoperative months the ventricular size decreased in all ten patients while the abnormal head growth-rate attained a normal pattern in approximately 50 percent of the patients. A relationship may exist, thus, between these two clinical manifestations of subdural hygroma in some infants but they may be independent, as well, in other infants.

Keyword

Subdural hygroma - Echoventriculography - Head growth-rate - Ventricular size