Types of Brain Herniation

Extracranial brain herniation refers to herniation of brain tissue external to the calvaria through a skull bone defect, which may be post-traumatic or post-surgical. Unlike encephaloceles, brain herniation is not surrounded by the meninges.

Subfalcine herniation, the most common cerebral herniation pattern, is characterised by displacement of the brain (typically the cingulate gyrus) beneath the free edge of the falx cerebri due to raised intracranial pressure.

Types of brain herniation 1) Uncal 2) Central 3) Cingulate or sub/trans-falcine 4) Transcalvarial 5) Upward 6) Tonsillar The tentorium is an extension of the dura mater that separates the cerebellum from the cerebrum.

Transalar (transsphenoidal) herniation describes herniation of brain matter in and around the middle cranial fossa across the greater sphenoid wing and can be ascending or descending. Compression of structures against the sphenoid bone results in symptoms.

Uncal herniation is a subtype of transtentorial downward brain herniation, usually related to cerebral mass effect increasing the intracranial pressure. Clinical presentation Abnormal posture and poor GCS.