This site uses cookies, tags, and tracking settings to store information that help give you the very best browsing experience. Dismiss this warning

Reduced risk of reoperation of chronic subdural hematoma in patients treated with active subgaleal drainage compared with passive subdural drainage

Irena Grubor Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosurgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Search for other papers by Irena Grubor in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MD
,
Bryndís Baldvinsdóttir Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosurgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Search for other papers by Bryndís Baldvinsdóttir in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MD
,
Murtadha Al-Hesnawi Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosurgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Search for other papers by Murtadha Al-Hesnawi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MD
, and
Henrietta Nittby Redebrandt Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosurgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Search for other papers by Henrietta Nittby Redebrandt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MD, PhD
View More View Less
Publication Date:
15 Aug 2025
Page Range:
1–7
Volume/Issue:
Publish Before Print
DOI link:
https://doi.org/10.3171/2025.4.JNS242409
Restricted access

Purchase Now

USD  $45.00

JNS + Pediatrics - 1 year subscription bundle (Individuals Only)

USD  $536.00

JNS + Pediatrics + Spine - 1 year subscription bundle (Individuals Only)

USD  $636.00
Click here for subscription options

  • Purchase Now

    USD  $45.00

  • JNS + Pediatrics - 1 year subscription bundle (Individuals Only)

    USD  $536.00

  • JNS + Pediatrics + Spine - 1 year subscription bundle (Individuals Only)

    USD  $636.00
USD  $45.00
USD  $536.00
USD  $636.00
Print or Print + Online Sign in

OBJECTIVE

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common cause of morbidity in the older population and the incidence of CSDH is likely to increase in upcoming years due to the increasing age of the population. Surgical intervention is the cornerstone of treatment, but trials have shown conflicting results regarding the optimal type of surgical drainage. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between patients with CSDH who were surgically treated with active subgaleal drainage versus passive subdural drainage.

METHODS

This retrospective single-center cohort study included patients who underwent surgery for CSDH from 2020 to 2022. In a neurosurgical department in Lund, Sweden, the clinical routine changed from use of a passive subdural drain to an active subgaleal drain during this period. Data were collected from patient medical records and analyzed using univariable analysis followed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The primary outcome was reoperation for recurrent hematoma within 3 months. Secondary outcomes were postoperative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Of 452 patients (331 male, median age 78 years) included in the analysis, 3 were lost to follow-up, leaving 230 patients who received passive subdural drainage and 219 patients who received active subgaleal drainage for outcomes assessment. The risk of recurrent surgery for CSDH within 3 months was significantly lower in the active subgaleal drain group (12.7%) compared with the passive subdural drain group (20.1%) (p = 0.022). Regarding secondary outcomes, no statistically significant differences were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of recurrent CSDH requiring surgery was lower in patients who received active subgaleal drainage compared with those who received passive subdural drainage, with no increased risk of postoperative complications. These findings support use of the active subgaleal drain system for CSDH surgery.

ABBREVATIONS

CSDH = chronic subdural hematoma .
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Publish Before Print
Volume: 143 (2025)
Show Items
Volume: 142 (2025)
Show Items
Volume: 141 (2024)
Show Items
Volume: 140 (2024)
Show Items
Volume: 139 (2023)
Show Items
Volume: 138 (2023)
Show Items
Volume: 137 (2022)
Show Items
Volume: 136 (2022)
Show Items
Volume: 135 (2021)
Show Items
Volume: 134 (2021)
Show Items
Volume: 133 (2020)
Show Items
Volume: 132 (2020)
Show Items
Volume: 131 (2019)
Show Items
Volume: 130 (2019)
Show Items
Volume: 129 (2018)
Show Items
Volume: 128 (2018)
Show Items
Volume: 127 (2017)
Show Items
Volume: 126 (2017)
Show Items
Volume: 125 (2016)
Show Items
Volume: 124 (2016)
Show Items
Volume: 123 (2015)
Show Items
Volume: 122 (2015)
Show Items
Volume: 121 (2014)
Show Items
Volume: 120 (2014)
Show Items
Volume: 119 (2013)
Show Items
Volume: 118 (2013)
Show Items
Volume: 117 (2012)
Show Items
Volume: 116 (2012)
Show Items
Volume: 115 (2011)
Show Items
Volume: 114 (2011)
Show Items
Volume: 113 (2010)
Show Items
Volume: 112 (2010)
Show Items
Volume: 111 (2009)
Show Items
Volume: 110 (2009)
Show Items
Volume: 109 (2008)
Show Items
Volume: 108 (2008)
Show Items
Volume: 107 (2007)
Show Items
Volume: 106 (2007)
Show Items
Volume: 105 (2006)
Show Items
Volume: 104 (2006)
Show Items
Volume: 103 (2005)
Show Items
Volume: 102 (2005)
Show Items
Volume: 101 (2004)
Show Items
Volume: 100 (2004)
Show Items
Volume: 99 (2003)
Show Items
Volume: 98 (2003)
Show Items
Volume: 97 (2002)
Show Items
Volume: 96 (2002)
Show Items
Volume: 95 (2001)
Show Items
Volume: 94 (2001)
Show Items
Volume: 93 (2000)
Show Items
Volume: 92 (2000)
Show Items
Volume: 91 (1999)
Show Items
Volume: 90 (1999)
Show Items
Volume: 89 (1998)
Show Items
Volume: 88 (1998)
Show Items
Volume: 87 (1997)
Show Items
Volume: 86 (1997)
Show Items
Volume: 85 (1996)
Show Items
Volume: 84 (1996)
Show Items
Volume: 83 (1995)
Show Items
Volume: 82 (1995)
Show Items
Volume: 81 (1994)
Show Items
Volume: 80 (1994)
Show Items
Volume: 79 (1993)
Show Items
Volume: 78 (1993)
Show Items
Volume: 77 (1992)
Show Items
Volume: 76 (1992)
Show Items
Volume: 75 (1991)
Show Items
Volume: 74 (1991)
Show Items
Volume: 73 (1990)
Show Items
Volume: 72 (1990)
Show Items
Volume: 71 (1989)
Show Items
Volume: 70 (1989)
Show Items
Volume: 69 (1988)
Show Items
Volume: 68 (1988)
Show Items
Volume: 67 (1987)
Show Items
Volume: 66 (1987)
Show Items
Volume: 65 (1986)
Show Items
Volume: 64 (1986)
Show Items
Volume: 63 (1985)
Show Items
Volume: 62 (1985)
Show Items
Volume: 61 (1984)
Show Items
Volume: 60 (1984)
Show Items
Volume: 59 (1983)
Show Items
Volume: 58 (1983)
Show Items
Volume: 57 (1982)
Show Items
Volume: 56 (1982)
Show Items
Volume: 55 (1981)
Show Items
Volume: 54 (1981)
Show Items
Volume: 53 (1980)
Show Items
Volume: 52 (1980)
Show Items
Volume: 51 (1979)
Show Items
Volume: 50 (1979)
Show Items
Volume: 49 (1978)
Show Items
Volume: 48 (1978)
Show Items
Volume: 47 (1977)
Show Items
Volume: 46 (1977)
Show Items
Volume: 45 (1976)
Show Items
Volume: 44 (1976)
Show Items
Volume: 43 (1975)
Show Items
Volume: 42 (1975)
Show Items
Volume: 41 (1974)
Show Items
Volume: 40 (1974)
Show Items
Volume: 39 (1973)
Show Items
Volume: 38 (1973)
Show Items
Volume: 37 (1972)
Show Items
Volume: 36 (1972)
Show Items
Volume: 35 (1971)
Show Items
Volume: 34 (1971)
Show Items
Volume: 33 (1970)
Show Items
Volume: 32 (1970)
Show Items
Volume: 31 (1969)
Show Items
Volume: 30 (1969)
Show Items
Volume: 29 (1968)
Show Items
Volume: 28 (1968)
Show Items
Volume: 27 (1967)
Show Items
Volume: 26 (1967)
Show Items
Volume: 25 (1966)
Show Items
Volume: 24 (1966)
Show Items
Volume: 23 (1965)
Show Items
Volume: 22 (1965)
Show Items
Volume: 21 (1964)
Show Items
Volume: 20 (1963)
Show Items
Volume: 19 (1962)
Show Items
Volume: 18 (1961)
Show Items
Volume: 17 (1960)
Show Items
Volume: 16 (1959)
Show Items
Volume: 15 (1958)
Show Items
Volume: 14 (1957)
Show Items
Volume: 13 (1956)
Show Items
Volume: 12 (1955)
Show Items
Volume: 11 (1954)
Show Items
Volume: 10 (1953)
Show Items
Volume: 9 (1952)
Show Items
Volume: 8 (1951)
Show Items
Volume: 7 (1950)
Show Items
Volume: 6 (1949)
Show Items
Volume: 5 (1948)
Show Items
Volume: 4 (1947)
Show Items
Volume: 3 (1946)
Show Items
Volume: 2 (1945)
Show Items
Volume: 1 (1944)
Show Items

Contributor Notes

Correspondence Irena Grubor: Lund University, Lund, Sweden. irena.grubor@med.lu.se.

INCLUDE WHEN CITING Published online August 15, 2025; DOI: 10.3171/2025.4.JNS242409.

Disclosures The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this paper.