Intracranial diffuse axonal injury at autopsy

Abstract

An illustrative case of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) emphasizes features that help to separate focal outer head trauma owing to blows and/or falls from angular acceleration head injuries associated with diffuse inner brain lesions. In the past, explaining significant neurological deficits and death as the result of diffuse closed head trauma received from high-speed automobile accidents has been difficult as well as confusing. The long-term consequences from such diffuse inner cerebral trauma are still poorly defined. Head injuries sustained in automobile accidents have been associated with diffuse brain damage characterized by axonal injury at the moment of impact. The reported victim of a motor vehicle accident showed post-mortem findings for both inner cerebral trauma and focal outer cerebral damage. The diffuse degeneration of cerebral white matter is associated with sagittal and lateral acceleration with centroaxial trauma and has a different pathogenesis from outer focal head trauma, typified by subdural hematomas and coup injuries. Unlike outer cerebral injury, over 50 percent of victims with diffuse axonal injury die within two weeks. These individuals characteristically have no lucid interval and remain unconscious, vegetative, or severely disabled until death. Compared to head trauma victims without diffuse axonal injury, there is a lower incidence of skull fractures, subdural hemorrhages, or other intracranial mass effect as well as outer brain contusions. Primary brainstem injuries often demonstrated at autopsy are seen in the reported victim. Diffuse axonal injury is produced by various angles of acceleration with prolonged acceleration/deceleration usually accompanying traffic accidents. Less severe diffuse axonal injury causes concussion.