Chronic subdural haematomas in patients aged under 50

The clinical findings in 31 patients with chronic subdural haematoma (CSH), aged between 20 and 50, are described. Aetiopathagenetic factors responsib le for the formation of CSH match those of patients aged over 50 with CSH. A history of cranial trauma was present in 77% of the cases. In the remaini ng patients, a defect of haemostatic mechanisms was responsible for the sub dural blood collection. On the computed tomography (CT) the haematoma gener ally appears as a thin subdural layer. The reliability of magnetic resonanc e imaging for detection of CSH makes it the most desirable investigation in such patients. Prognosis is influenced by preoperative clinical status and by the disease responsible for the formation of CSH. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.