A Rare Cause of Interhemispheric Subdural Empyema and Closed Head Trauma: A Case Report

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 3, 176 - 179, 31.10.2025

Neslihan Mete Atasever , Elif Dede , Ali Genco Gençay Demet Demirkol , Tuğrul Cem Ünal , İlyas Dolaş , Levent Aydemir , Ayper Somer

https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2025.1736751

Abstract

Closed head trauma is a rare cause of subdural empyema (SDE). It is often seen as a complication of paranasal sinusitis, mastoiditis, or otitis in older children. A 15-year-old male patient presented with complaints of headache, runny nose, and forehead fullness. Sinusitis was diagnosed. Treatment of sinusitis showed no benefit, but symptoms were observed to get progressively worse. MRI showed empyema in the subdural area on the left side of the interhemispheric fissure. At the beginning of his symptomatology, he had a headache that did not go away after a blow to the head almost two months ago. The first cranial images taken after the trauma were normal. The interhemispheric SDE that developed during the follow-up was drained by burrhole drainage surgery. Symptoms disappeared with a normal neurological examination in the first week of surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy.

Keywords

Trauma , abscess , empyema , child

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