Utility of intracranial pressure monitoring in patients with traumatic brain injuries: a propensity score matching analysis of TQIP data

Purpose Intracranial pressure monitoring (ICPM) is central to traumatic brain injury (TBI) management, but its utility is controversial. Methods The 2016–2017 TQIP database was queried for isolated TBI. Patients with ICPM [(ICPM (+)] were propensity-score matched (PSM) to those without ICPM [ICPM (−)] and divided into three age groups by years (< 18, 18–54, ≥ 55). Results PSM yielded 2125 patients in each group. Patients aged < 18 years had a higher survival probability ( p = 0.013) and decreased mortality ( p = 0.016) in the ICPM (+) group. Complications were higher and LOS was longer in ICPM (+) patients aged 18–54 years and ≥ 55 years, but not in patients aged < 18 years. Conclusions ICPM (+) is associated with a survival benefit without an increase in complications in patents aged < 18 years. In patients aged ≥ 18 years, ICPM (+) is associated with more complications and longer LOS without a survival benefit.