A subdural hematoma is a type of intracranial hematoma (blood clot or clots) that often results from a head injury.
Causes
A subdural hematoma occurs when a blood clot forms underneath the skull and underneath the dura (the tough covering that surrounds the brain) but outside of the brain. These can form from a tear in the veins that go from the brain to the dura, or from a cut on the brain itself. They are sometimes, but not always, associated with a skull fracture.
Symptoms
The person may have varying degrees of symptoms associated with the severity of the head injury. The following are the most common symptoms of a head injury. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. With this type of moderate to severe head injury, immediate medical attention is required. Symptoms may include:
- confusion
- loss of consciousness
- blurred vision
- severe headache
- vomiting
- loss of short-term memory, such as difficulty remembering the events that lead right up to and through the traumatic event
- slurred speech
- difficult walking
- dizziness
- weakness in one side or area of the body
- sweating
- pale skin color
- seizures
- behavior changes including irritability
- blood or clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
- one pupil (dark area in the center of the eye) looks larger than the other eye
- deep cut or laceration in the scalp
- open wound in the head
- foreign object penetrating the head
The symptoms of a head injury may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment is individualized, depending on the extent of the condition and the presence of other injuries. Depending on the severity of the injury,
At Alimran Medical Center, we may recommend any of the following treatments:
Non surgical
Chiropractic
Repetitive transcranial magnatic stimulation (rTMS)
Head injury may cause the brain to swell. Since the brain is covered by the skull, there is only a small amount of room for it to swell. This causes pressure inside the skull to increase, which can lead to brain damage. If the patient has a severe head injury, he/she may require monitoring for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) (pressure inside the skull).
Surgical
Burr hole evacuation of hemorrhage