Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage epidemiology

Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and occurs in ~35% (range 11-60%) of traumatic brain injuries 1).

It has been reported in up to 60% of patients who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6).

It is the second most common acute brain injury finding on computed tomography (CT) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients 7).

1)
Wu Z, Li S, Lei J, An D, Haacke EM. Evaluation of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage using susceptibility-weighted imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010 Aug;31(7):1302-10. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2022. Epub 2010 Feb 25. PMID: 20190211; PMCID: PMC3940156.
2)
Zurynski YA, Dorsch NW. A review of cerebral vasospasm. Part IV. Post-traumatic vasospasm. J Clin Neurosci. 1998;146(2):146–54.
3)
Mattioli C, Beretta L, Gerevini S, Veglia F, Citerio G, Cormio M, et al. Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage on the computerized tomography scan obtained at admission: a multicenter assessment of the accuracy of diagnosis and the potential impact on patient outcome. J Neurosurg. 2003;98(1):37–42.
4)
Eisenberg HM, Gary HE, Jr, Aldrich EF, Saydjari C, Turner B, Foulkes MA, et al. Initial CT findings in 753 patients with severe head injury. A report from the NIH Traumatic Coma Data Bank. J Neurosurg. 1990;73(5):688–98.
5)
Kakarieka A, Schakel EH, Fritze J. Clinical experiences with nimodipine in cerebral ischemia. J Neural Transm Suppl. 1994;43:13–21.
6)
Morris GF, Bullock R, Marshall SB, Marmarou A, Maas A, Marshall LF. Failure of the competitive N-methyl-Daspartate antagonist Selfotel (CGS 19755) in the treatment of severe head injury: results of two phase III clinical trials. The Selfotel Investigators. J Neurosurg. 1999;91(5):737–43.
7)
Levy AS, Orlando A, Hawkes AP, Salottolo K, Mains CW, Bar-Or D. Should the management of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage differ from concussion in the setting of mild traumatic brain injury? J Trauma. 2011;71(5):1199–1204. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e31822067fc