Objective: To study the influence of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage on secondary intracranial damage in GCS 13-15 head injuries and prognosis.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with mild head injury, including 64 with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 64 without subarachnoid hemorrhage, were selected and analyzed according to the changes of their conditions after injury.
Results: Intracranial abnormality was found in 14 patients (21.87%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage and only in 4 patients (6.25%) without subarachnoid hemorrhage (P<0.01). In the 14 patients, 4 were given surgical treatment. Mild disability was in 2 patients and 2 completely recovered. The rest were conservatively treated and achieved complete recovery at last.
Conclusions: Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, as a factor of intracranial complications in mild head injury should be given much attention. Early drainage of bloody cerebrospinal fluid by lumbar puncture is an effective method for prevention and treatment of complications in mild head injury.