hematoma, subdural

hematoma, subdural A hematoma between the brain and its covering, the dura. If the hematoma causes increased pressure on the brain, neurological abnormalities including slurred speech, impaired gait, and dizziness may result and progress to coma and even death. Subdural hematomas can be caused by minor accidents to the head, major trauma, or the spontaneous bursting of a blood vessel in the brain (aneurysm). Acute subdural hematomas are usually due to severe head trauma. Chronic subdural hematomas may be very insidious. They usually go unnoticed, sometimes for 2 to 4 weeks: When they do cause problems, the incident that caused the bleeding is often long past. Symptoms include increasing daily headache, fluctuating drowsiness or confusion, and mild weakness on one side of the body. In infants, subdural hematomas can cause the fontanel to bulge and the head circumference to enlarge. Diagnosis is usually made by MRI or CT scan. Treatment is trepanation: drilling through the skull to drain the excess blood.