Seventy-five patients underwent hemicraniectomy for acute subdural or epidural hematomas. Of these, 18 were studied postoperatively at intervals from 1 day to 1.5 years. Review of these studies showed that hemicraniectomy, per se, does not affect the position of midline structures or ventricular size. Ipsilateral shifts occur postoperatively only in the presence of a contralateral mass. Ventricular enlargement is more marked on the hemicraniectomy side. RISA cisternography demonstrated ventricular reflux in 3 patients with communicating hydrocephalus. Marked nuclide accumulation was seen in the other patients over the operated side.
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George et al. (1974) studied this question.