A case of posttraumatic normal pressure hydrocephalus showing good outcome without shunt surgery

Masaya Oda¹⁾, Masanori Hiji¹⁾, Hijiri Ito¹⁾, Yuishin Izumi^1,2)

¹⁾Department of Neurology, Mifukai Vihara Hananosato Hospital,
²⁾Department of Neurology, Tokushima University Hospital

An 85-year-old woman with mild dementia suffered a head injury. Although head MRI showed subdural hematoma and subcortical hemorrhage, these were resolved without any treatment. Severe consciousness disturbance or subarachnoid hemorrhage was not observed in the acute phase of injury. She gradually developed gait disturbance and dysuria over a period of 4 months. Head CT revealed a progressive ventriculomegaly. Finally, posttraumatic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) was diagnosed. Symptoms related to gait and urine improved after a tap test. Although she did not undergo shunt surgery, she has not experienced recurrence of NPH symptoms for more than two years．
We should consider secondary NPH even in cases of relatively mild head injuries.

Address correspondence to Dr. Masaya Oda, Department of Neurology, Mifukai Vihara Hananosato Hospital (605-20 Yamaga-cho, Miyoshi-shi, Hiroshima 728-0001, Japan)