Dating of Acute and Subacute Subdural Haemorrhage: A Histo-Pathological Study

Abstract

Introduction: Microscopic study of the organization of the Subdural Haemorrhage (SDH) verified against the time period can help us in the determination of its age which has serious medico-legal implications. Very few studies concerning the dating of SDH are present in the literature. Aim: This study was conducted for dating the early subdural haemorrhage by routine histopathological stains. Materials and Methods: A prospective analytical study was conducted during July 2009 to December 2010. A total of 100 cases (50 males and 50 females) fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. Routine histopathological staining of the subdural haematoma was done. Results: Correlation between the frequency of a given histomorphological phenomenon and the length of the Post-Traumatic Interval (PTI) was evidential. All the histomorphological features, when correlated with PTI groups, were found to be statistically significant, except for Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes (PMN). Conclusion: We concluded that routine histopathology was reliable in the dating of early subdural haemorrhages.

Keywords

• medico-legal
• polymorphonuclear leuckocytes
• post-traumatic interval
• subdural haematoma