Is epidural hematoma rare?

Epidural hematoma occurs in 1-2% of all head trauma cases and in about 10% of patients who present with traumatic coma. Reported mortality rates range from 5-43%.

How bad is an epidural hematoma?

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.

Where is an epidural hematoma most likely to occur?

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.

Can you survive an epidural hematoma?

An epidural hematoma requires immediate medical attention. If left untreated, a person can lose consciousness, suffer long-term health consequences, or even die.

Is an epidural hematoma worse than a subdural?

Because of associated brain injuries and complications of secondary injury, the outcome of subdural hematoma is worse than that of epidural hematoma in children. Surgical intervention may be necessary, especially with large subdural hematomas causing a mass effect.

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.

How long does it take to heal from an epidural hematoma?

In adults, most recovery occurs in the first 6 months. Usually there is some improvement over 2 years. If there is brain damage, full recovery isn’t likely.

Who is at risk for epidural hematoma?

Increased age, history of GI bleeding, aspirin use during anticoagulation, length of therapy, female gender, and intensity of anticoagulant effect (ie INR 2-3 less likely to cause major bleeding than INR >4)are all known risk factors for bleeding during anticoagulation and also increase the risk of an epidural hematoma …

What does an epidural hematoma feel like?

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.

What does epidural hematoma look like?

Epidural hematomas usually appear convex in shape because their expansion stops at the skull’s sutures, where the dura mater is tightly attached to the skull. Thus, they expand inward toward the brain rather than along the inside of the skull, as occurs in subdural hematomas.

Which is worse epidural or subdural hematoma Why?

When does an epidural hematoma occur in the brain?

Which is more common intracranial or spinal 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.

Can a disk herniation cause an epidural hematoma?

Spinal epidural hematoma often occurs in conjunction with disk herniation because of involvement of the epidural venous plexus and may be responsible for neural effacement. MRI signal characteristics of disk versus blood must be thoroughly explored because a space-occupying lesion caused by blood resolves quicker than disk debris.

What should you do if you have an epidural hematoma?

Epidural Hematomas. However, usually an epidural hematoma represents a surgical emergency and should be evacuated as rapidly as possible. Every effort should be made to relieve the pressure as soon as possible. A more localized craniotomy flap is warranted for epidural hematomas.