Most patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) have a history of craniocerebral trauma. Avulsion of intracranial pontine vein is the main pathogenesis after craniocerebral injury. CSDH drilling and drainage is the most widely used surgical method, with low recurrence and mortality rate. However, the postoperative complication of subdural pyometra is extremely rare, which leads to high mortality and disability rate and thus representing a very challenging disease in trauma surgery. Old age, diabetes mellitus, drainage with foreign body, craniocerebral surgery, open wound, chronic systemic infectious diseases (sinusitis, otitis media, abdominal abscess, lung infection, urinary tract infection), tumor or immune deficiency diseases are all the high risk factors. This paper reviews the pathogenesis, pathogenic bacteria, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, treatment and prognosis of subdural empyema after CSDH drilling and drainage in recent years, and provides suggestions for clinical management.

Hematoma, subdural, chronic; Drainage; Subdural empyema