Subperiosteal/subgaleal drainage vs. subdural drainage for chronic subdural hematoma: A meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is commonly treated via surgical removal of the hematoma, placement of a routine indwelling drainage tube, and continuous drainage to ensure that the blood does not re-aggregate following removal. However, the optimal location for placement of the drainage tube remains to be determined. Objectives: To aid in establishing a reference for selecting the optimal method, we compared the effects of different drainage tube placements on CSDH prognosis via a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous clinical studies. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Study eligibility criteria: We searched for clinical studies comparing the outcomes of subperiosteal/subgaleal drainage (SPGD) and subdural drainage (SDD) for CSDH published in English prior to April 1, 2022. Participants: The final analysis included 15 studies involving 4,318 patients. Results: Our analysis of the pooled results revealed no significant differences in recurrence rate between the SDD and SPGD groups. We also observed no significant differences in mortality or rates of postoperative complications (infection, pneumocephalus, or epilepsy) between the SDD and SPGD groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that the choice of SDD vs. SPGD has no significant effect on CSDH prognosis, highlighting SPGD as an alternative treatment option for CSDH.