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Chronic Subdural Hematoma Related to Sport Head Injury

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Subdural Hematoma

Abstract

Subdural hematomas have been observed in several sports, from ball games like basketball to noncontact sports like race walking. Soccer-related brain injury is uncommon. Only few studies have shown the existence of a relationship between the practice of sport activities and a higher risk to develop chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), especially in a young population. The best indirect example of this association is Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona who was operated for CSDH a month before his death. In the presence of an arachnoid cysts, the practice of sport activities may expose young patients to minor head trauma and to an increased risk of developing CSDH. We performed a literature review of all the reported cases of patients with CSDH related to sport practice, from the year 1950 through March 1, 2020, and we finalized a total of 66 cases found across 52 studies. For each case, we analyzed age, sex, sport activity practiced, delay between sport and diagnosis, symptoms, brain imaging, treatment performed, the outcome, and evolution. There is no clear consensus regarding the return of athletes to the sport after CSDH. This study will be of interest to all neurosurgeons and other physicians who treat patients with sports-related CSDH.

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Baallal, H., Belfquih, H., Akhaddar, A. (2021). Chronic Subdural Hematoma Related to Sport Head Injury. In: Turgut, M., Akhaddar, A., Hall, W.A., Turgut, A.T. (eds) Subdural Hematoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79371-5_25

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