E-ISSN: 1019-5157 ISSN: 2651-5024
Research

Surgical Treatment Outcome Prediction Score for Traumatic Brain Injury

Shun Yamamuro , Masato Kobayashi , Takeshi Maeda , Atsuo Yoshino
Article in Press

Abstract

Aim
The postoperative prognosis after decompression surgery for traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains poor, with some patients left in a vegetative state or dying postoperatively. This study aimed to develop a simple preoperative scoring system to predict poor postoperative outcomes and improve clinical decision-making.

Material and Methods
This study retrospectively analyzed 133 patients who underwent decompression craniectomy for TBI at our institution from January 2014 to December 2024. Poor outcome was defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale score 1 or 2. Preoperative clinical and radiological factors were compared between the poor and not-poor outcome groups. Significant variables were binarized and a weighted scoring system was developed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results
Four factors were identified as independent predictors of poor outcome: age ≥80 years, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤5, midline shift ≥12 mm, and presence of contralateral lesions (cerebral contusion or acute subdural hematoma). GCS score ≤5 and midline shift ≥12 mm were assigned 2 points and the other factors 1 point each, resulting in a weighted scoring system score ranging from 0 to 7. The incidence of poor outcomes was 6.1% in the 0-point group, 50.1% in the 1–3-point group, and 95.2% in the 4–7-point group, showing a strong correlation with the score strata.

Conclusion
This score is a simple and practical tool for predicting poor postoperative outcomes using preoperative data, and may be useful in early surgical decision-making support communication with families, and promote the most appropriate care.

Keywords

traumatic brain injury postoperative outcome acute epidural hematoma acute subdural hematoma cerebral contusion