Neuroendoscopy-assisted drainage versus burr hole drainage for chronic subdural hematoma (URANUS): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), a highly prevalent neurosurgical condition predominantly affecting the elderly, demonstrates an incidence of 58.1/100,000 person-years in individuals ≥ 65 years, escalating to 127/100,000 among octogenarians. Driven by global demographic aging and anticoagulant utilization, its population-level incidence is projected to reach 17.4/100,000 by 2030. The standard surgical intervention—burr hole craniotomy with intraoperative irrigation and closed subdural drainage implantation—carries a documented recurrence rate of 5–33%, where residual hematoma volume constitutes a well-established independent recurrence predictor. Meta-analysis indicates endoscopically guided drainage may reduce recurrence through optimized hematoma evacuation, though robust clinical validation of its therapeutic benefit remains insufficient. This prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial employing blinded endpoint assessment will enroll 770 participants aged 18–90 years with radiologically verified symptomatic CSDH. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive neuroendoscopy-assisted drainage (intervention cohort) or burr hole craniotomy drainage (control cohort), with the primary endpoint defined as the occurrence of recurrent hematoma necessitating reintervention within 3 postoperative months. Secondary outcomes comprise postoperative hematoma volume, thickness, and midline shift; neurological function evaluated using standardized assessment scales; quality-of-life measures quantified via validated instruments; catheter indwelling time for subdural drainage; total hospitalization length of stay; all-cause mortality; and incidence of procedure-associated complications. This study aims to validate the efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopy-assisted drainage for reducing recurrence rates and improving clinical outcomes in CSDH patients. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07144423. Registered on Aug 27, 2025.