Comparison of Burr Hole Drainage and Mini-Craniotomy in the Management of Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Retrospective-Prospective Study at Dr. Zainoel Abidin General Hospital

Abstract

Burr hole drainage and mini craniotomy are two commonly used surgical techniques in the management of cSDH, but their effectiveness on clinical outcomes is still debated. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of burr hole drainage and mini craniotomy based on the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in chronic subdural hematoma patients at dr. Zainoel Abidin Banda Aceh Hospital. This study used a comparative analytical observational design with a retrospective-prospective approach. The study sample consisted of 30 cSDH patients who underwent burr hole drainage or mini craniotomy during the period January 2024–December 2025 and were selected using consecutive sampling techniques. Data were obtained from the patient's medical records and analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's Exact Test with a significance level of p<0.05. The average age of patients was 63.5±12.1 years with the majority being male (83.3%). A total of 22 patients (73.3%) underwent burr hole drainage and 8 patients (26.7%) underwent a mini craniotomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 1 patient (4.5%) of the burr hole drainage group and 1 patient (12.5%) of the mini craniotomy group. The results of the analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two actions on the incidence of complications (p=0.469). Mortality was found in 1 patient (4.5%) in the burr hole drainage group and not found in the mini craniotomy group, with no significant difference (p=1,000).