Subdural empyema historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Historical Perspective

First reported in literature about 100 years ago, it is also referred to as subdural abscess, pachymeningitis interna and circumscript meningitis. Before the discovery of antibiotics, the mortality rate of patients with subdural empyema was close to 100%. This percentage may still be found in developing countries, with limited access to these medicines. In the developed world however, the mortality rate has decreased ever since and is nowadays between 6-35%.