Impact of timing of decompressive craniectomy on outcomes in pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) can be utilized in the management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). It remains unclear if timing of DC affects pediatric patient outcomes. Further, the literature is limited in the risk assessment and prevention of complications that can occur post DC.

Methods: This is a retrospective review over a 10-year period across two medical centers of patients ages 1 month-18 years who underwent DC for TBI. Patients were stratified as acute (<24 h) and subacute (>24 h) based on timing to DC. Primary outcomes were Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at discharge and 6-month follow-up as well as complication rates.

Results: A total of 47 patients fit the inclusion criteria: 26 (55.3%) were male with a mean age of 7.87 ± 5.87 years. Overall, mortality was 31.9% ( = 15). When evaluating timing to DC, 36 (76.6%) patients were acute, and 11 (23.4%) were subacute. Acute DC patients presented with a lower Glasgow coma scale (5.02 ± 2.97) compared to subacute (8.45 ± 4.91) ( = 0.030). Timing of DC was not associated with GOS at discharge ( = 0.938), 3-month follow-up ( = 0.225), 6-month follow-up ( = 0.074), or complication rate ( = 0.505). The rate of posttraumatic hydrocephalus following DC for both groups was 6.4% ( = 3).

Conclusion: Although patients selected for the early DC had more severe injuries at presentation, there was no difference in outcomes. The optimal timing of DC requires a multifactorial approach considered on a case-by-case basis.