Risk factors and early diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus occlusion secondary to traumatic brain injury

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the risk factors of, and the strategy for early diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus occlusion (CVSO) secondary to traumatic brain injury. Materials and Methods: The clinical data of 240 consecutive patients were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical symptoms were observed and imaging was carried out. The risk factors of CVSO were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. Early diagnosis of CVSO was established based on the clinical and imaging features. Results: Forty patients were diagnosed to be having CVSO according to the findings of computerized tomographic venogram (CTV) and magnetic resonance venogram (MRV). They were classified into three sub-types (thrombosis occlusion type, compression type, and mixed type). A skull fracture crossing the sinus (odds ratio [OR] =8.026; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.107-20.734) and an epidural hematoma crossing the sinus (OR = 3.062; 95% CI: 1.355-6.921) were risk factors associated with CVSO, and the former played a more significant role. The female gender (OR = 0.306; 95% CI: 1.715-61.943) was the risk factor for the thrombosis occlusion type of CVSO. An epidural hematoma crossing the sinus (OR = 5.653; 95% CI: 1.767-18.084) was the risk factor of the compression type of CVSO. The past medical history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (OR = 11.276; 95% CI: 1.315-96.664) combined with a skull fracture and epidural hematoma crossing the sinus were risk factors for the mixed type of CVSO. Conclusions: Paying close attention to the past medical history of DVT, skull fracture, and the imaging finding of an epidural hematoma that crosses the sinus are necessary for the early diagnosis of CVSO. CTV and MRV help in making an early diagnosis of CVSO.