What is epidural Haematoma?

An epidural hematoma (EDH) occurs when blood accumulates between the skull and the dura mater, the thick membrane covering the brain. They typically occur when a skull fracture tears an underlying blood vessel. EDHs are about half as common as a subdural hematomas and usually occur in young adults.

What is the most common cause of an epidural hematoma?

Epidural hematomas are the direct result of physical trauma to the head. Some of the most likely causes of an epidural hematoma include: head injury from a contact sport, such as football or rugby. car accident.

What is the common location of epidural hematoma?

Approximately 70-80% of epidural hematomas (EDHs) are located in the temporoparietal region where skull fractures cross the path of the middle meningeal artery or its dural branches. Frontal and occipital epidural hematomas each constitute about 10%, with the latter occasionally extending above and below the tentorium.

Is epidural Haematoma an emergency?

Epidural hematoma is a surgical emergency. Delayed surgery can result in permanent brain damage or death. Without surgery, death usually follows, due to enlargement of the hematoma, causing a brain herniation.

Is epidural hematoma fatal?

An epidural hematoma can put pressure on your brain and cause it to swell. As it swells, your brain may shift in your skull. Pressure on and damage to your brain’s tissues can affect your vision, speech, mobility, and consciousness. If left untreated, an epidural hematoma can cause lasting brain damage and even death.

Who is at risk for epidural hematoma?

Intracranial and spinal epidural hematomas are more frequent in men, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. Intracranial epidural hematoma is rare in individuals younger than 2 years. Intracranial epidural hematoma is also rare in individuals older than 60 years because the dura is tightly adherent to the calvaria.

What is treatment for epidural hematoma?

In most cases, your doctor will recommend surgery to remove an epidural hematoma. It usually involves a craniotomy. In this procedure, your surgeon will open up part of your skull so they can remove the hematoma and reduce the pressure on your brain. In other cases, your doctor may recommend aspiration.

Do all epidural hematomas need surgery?

Not all cases of acute EDH require immediate surgical evacuation. If a lesion is small and the patient is in good neurological condition, observing the patient with frequent neurological examinations is reasonable.

When do epidural hematoma symptoms start?

Headache (severe) Head injury or trauma followed by loss of consciousness, a period of alertness, then rapid deterioration back to unconsciousness. Nausea or vomiting. Weakness in part of the body, usually on the opposite side from the side with the enlarged pupil.

How serious is an epidural hematoma?

When does a hematoma need to be drained?

Sometimes, a hematoma may require surgical drainage. Surgery may be more likely if the blood is putting pressure on the spinal cord, brain, or other organs. In other cases, doctors may want to drain a hematoma that is at risk of infection.

What does epidural hematoma mean?

Epidural hematoma. Epidural hematoma is when bleeding occurs between the tough outer membrane covering the brain (dura mater) and the skull.

How does an epidural hematoma affect the body?

An epidural hematoma affects the body within minutes of a head injury. As the ruptured blood vessel bleeds onto the brain, the blood pocket places pressure on the brain causing it to swell. As a result, a person may experience headache, dizziness, and confusion . The headache may disappear and return several hours later.

Where are epidural hematomas ussually seen?

Epidural hematoma occurs between the skull and the dura mater . It is most commonly seen after trauma and fracture to the temporal bone, which results in the rupture of the middle meningeal artery. CT scan of the bleed will demonstrate biconvex, hyperdense, lentiform appearance that does not cross suture lines.

What’s the definition of subdural hematoma?

A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood in the space between the outer layer (dura) and middle layers of the covering of the brain (the meninges). It is most often caused by torn, bleeding veins on the inside of the dura as a result of a blow to the head.