A retrospective review of prospectively collected data for all patients who were admitted for the management of traumatic intracerebellar haematoma at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, India provided data for the 23 consecutive patients admitted for aforesaid over a seven-year study period. Medical records, diagnostic imaging and operative notes were reviewed for all patients. They divided the patient pool in to two groups based on their GCS score at the time of presentation - Group A (GCS > 7) and Group B (GCS ≤ 7). The association of different allied factors was studied and statistically analyzed. The relevant medical literature was also reviewed.

Most Group B patients were found to be associated with poor outcome at hospital discharge. The overall incidence of poor outcome in the study was 69.56%. GCS score at time of admission, allied supratentorial lesions, advanced age, condition of fourth ventricle and chest infection were found to be important factors which could be associated with poor outcome

Surgery in patients with the mentioned risk factors remains debatable and should be approached cautiously. Larger multi-institutional and meta-analytic studies are required to study and statistically establish the factors which might be associated with poor outcome in these patients. An algorithm which may be used in the management of traumatic intracerebellar haematoma patients is proposed ¹⁾.

In 17 patients with traumatic intra-cerebellar haematomas.

Ten patients had poor outcomes. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at admission was significantly higher in the favourable outcome group than in the poor outcome group (p = 0.010). The haematoma volume was significantly smaller in the favourable outcome group than in the poor outcome group (p = 0.025). There were also significant differences between the two groups in terms of types of haematoma location, the status of the brainstem cisterns, the status of the fourth ventricle, and the presence of associated subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) (p = 0.035, 0.002, 0.010, 0.003, respectively).

The factors correlated with outcome were GCS score, the status of the brainstem cisterns and the fourth ventricle, the presence of associated SAH, haematoma volume and haematoma location. Further studies are needed to investigate the factors relevant to the management of traumatic intra-cerebellar haematomas ²⁾.

81 patients with a traumatic intracerebellar hemorrhagic contusion or hematoma managed between 1996 and 1998 at 13 Italian neurosurgical centers.

Each center provided data about patients' clinicoradiological findings, management, and outcomes, which were retrospectively reviewed.

A poor result occurred in 36 patients (44.4%). Forty-five patients (55.6%) had favorable results. For the purpose of data analysis, patients were divided into two groups according to their admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. In Group 1 (39/81 cases; GCS score, > or =8), the outcome was favorable in 95% of cases. In Group 2 (42/81 cases; GCS score, <8), the outcome was poor in 81% of cases. Twenty-seven patients underwent posterior fossa surgery. Factors correlating with outcome were GCS score, status of the basal cisterns and the fourth ventricle, associated supratentorial traumatic lesions, mechanism of injury, and intracerebellar clot size. Multivariate analysis showed significant independent prognostic effect only for GCS score (P = 0.000) and the concomitant presence of supratentorial lesions (P = 0.0035).

This study describes clinicoradiological findings and prognostic factors regarding traumatic cerebellar injury. A general consensus emerged from this analysis that a conservative approach can be considered a viable, safe treatment option for noncomatose patients with intracerebellar clots measuring less than or equal to 3 cm, except when associated with other extradural or subdural posterior fossa focal lesions. Also, a general consensus was reached that surgery should be recommended for all patients with clots larger than 3 cm. The pathogenesis, biomechanics, and optimal management criteria of these rare lesions are still unclear, and larger observational studies are necessary ³⁾.

15 cases of intracerebellar haematomas [11 spontaneous, 2 traumatic and 2 unclear] were presented ⁴⁾

A rare case of delayed traumatic intracerebellar hematoma (DTIC1H) in a 54-year-old male achieved an excellent outcome without surgery. Analysis of this case and other reported cases suggests that DTIC1H occurs in two types: Group I with hematoma developing in previously contused areas, and Group II with hematoma developing in areas appearing normal on the initial computed tomographic scan. Group I hematomas occurred in the cerebellar cortex, but Group II hematomas occurred in the subcortical region or vermis where direct impact is less likely to have an effect. This suggests different mechanisms of development for DTIC1H ⁵⁾.