A subdural hematoma is a critical ailment where blood accumulates amidst the skull as well as the brain surface. In most cases, it is typically brought about by head injuries.
The indications of this form of hematoma might include:
- Confusion
- Headache that continues to worsen
- Feeling sick
- Feeling drowsiness
- Personality changes such as rapid mood swings or unusually aggressive
- Loss of consciousness
The indications might arise right after a severe head injury or occasionally a few days or weeks after a minor head injury.
What are the causes?
A subdural hematoma develops if a blood vessel in the space amidst the skull and the brain is damaged.
The blood escapes from the blood vessel which leads to the formation of a blood clot that places pressure on the brain and impairs it. Head injuries that lead to hematomas are often severe such as from a fall, vehicular accident or violent assault. Nevertheless, minor injuries to the head can also result to a hematoma in a few cases.
In case of minor head injuries, it is likely to lead to a subdural hematoma among those over 60 years of age, using blood-thinning medications such as warfarin or history of alcohol misuse.
Management of a subdural hematoma
A subdural hematoma is generally managed with surgery as soon as possible. The commonly used surgical procedures include:
- Craniotomy – a section of the skull is momentarily removed to access and remove the hematoma
- Burr holes – this involves the creation of a small hole that is drilled into the skull and a tube is inserted to drain the hematoma
In some cases, a small subdural hematoma requires careful monitoring initially to check if they heal without requiring surgery.