Extradural hemorrhage

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Extradural hematoma; Epidural hematoma

The health care provider should be consulted for any head injury that results in even a brief loss of consciousness or if other symptoms are present after head injury (even without loss of consciousness).

The typical symptom pattern of loss of consciousness, followed by alertness, then loss of consciousness again may not appear in all people, but strongly indicates an extradural hemorrhage.

The most important symptoms of an extradural hemorrhage are:

• Headache , severe
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Nausea or vomiting may accompany the headache
• Dizziness
• Enlarged pupil in one eye
• Weakness of part of the body, usually on the opposite side from the side with the enlarged pupil
• Head injury or trauma followed by loss of consciousness , an alert period of time, then rapid deterioration back to unconsciousness

The neurologic examination may indicate that a specific part of the brain is malfunctioning (for instance, arm weakness on one side) or may indicate increased intracranial pressure.

If there is increased intracranial pressure, emergency surgery may be needed in order to relieve the pressure within the head and spare the brain from further injury.

A head CT scan will confirm the diagnosis of an extradural hemorrhage and will pinpoint the exact location of the hematoma and any associated skull fracture.

Review Date: 07/14/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.