THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRAIN SURFACE ELASTANCE AND BRAIN REEXPANSION AFTER EVACUATION OF CHRONIC SUBDURAL-HEMATOMA

BACKGROUND Brain stiffness has been thought to be a factor affecting b rain re-expansion after the evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma. M ETHODS As an index of brain stiffness, the pressure for compressing th e brain using an ophthalmodynamometer was defined as brain-surface ela stance. This elastance in 14 patients was measured and analyzed in rel ation to brain re-expansion. RESULTS Patients with an enlarged subdura l space on computed tomography 1 month after the operation had higher elastance. There was a correlation between high elastance and high age . CONCLUSIONS Measuring the elastance after evacuation of the hematoma may help predict the persistence of a subdural space.