Comparison of the effects of stepwise intracranial decompression and decompressive craniectomy in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To compare the effects of stepwise intracranial decompression (SID) and decompressive craniectomy (DC) on severe traumatic brain injury.

METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Ninety two patients were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method. The study group received SID, whereas the control group received DC. The surgical time and intraoperative bleeding of the 2 groups of patients were recorded, neurological function and glasgow coma score before and after treatment in both groups, incidence of complications, prognostic situation, and levels of brain oxygen metabolism indicators before and after treatment.

RESULTS: Among the 92 patients who agreed, 46 were assigned to the study and control groups, and 6 patients were excluded. Finally, 86 patients were analyzed, including 43 in the study group and 43 in the control group. After treatment, the glasgow coma score scores of the 2 groups increased compared to before treatment; the study group had a higher score, The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score decreased compared to before treatment, and the study group had a lower score (P < .05). The incidence of complications in the study group (4.65%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (18.60%) (P < .05). The good prognosis rate of the research group (41.86%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (16.28%) (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: Compared with DC, using SID to treat severe traumatic brain injury can shorten surgical time and reduce intraoperative bleeding, more effectively improve patients neurological function and consciousness state, reduce the incidence of complications, and regulate brain oxygen metabolism status, which is beneficial for improving prognosis and ensuring a good outcome of the disease.