About this topic
The space between the brain and the skull is called the subdural space. Sometimes, a blood vessel in this space may burst or become injured. Then, blood can build up and form a clot or hematoma. This puts pressure on the brain. This is a very serious brain problem that can cause brain damage if not treated by a doctor. ‚
There are 3 kinds of subdural hematoma: ‚
- A hematoma that forms right after an injury. This is an acute subdural hematoma. It is the most serious and needs emergency care right away.
- A hematoma that forms a few days to weeks after the injury. This is a subacute subdural hematoma. This is a less common kind. It can be harder to find.
- A hematoma that forms over an extended period of 2 to 3 weeks after injury. This is called a chronic subdural hematoma. This is more common in older adults and also needs medical care.
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your care at home will depend on how much harm there is to the brain. Mild cases may need very little care. Very bad cases may result in long-term change in mental state. People with very bad cases may need a lot of care.
- Healing may take time so you need to be patient.
- Make sure family and friends know of your injury and how to help.
- Be sure to have an adult look after you for the first 12 to 24 hours after you are home. You can go to sleep but ask someone to wake you up every 2 to 3 hours for the first 12 hours.
- Stop use of alcohol and tobacco products
- Rest your body. Do not work out. You should not use exercise machines such as treadmills, or do other heavy activities. Light activity is OK.
- Rest your brain. Stay away from doing things that need a lot of thought or focus. Stay away from TV, computers, and video games. Check with your doctor to see when you can return to these things.
- Be as comfortable as possible. Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice directly on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Rehab care may be very important. You may need specific help with:
- Basic skills like walking and dressing
- Communication skills like talking
- Brain skills like memory, thinking, and focusing
- Be sure to watch your child closely after a head injury, especially when at school or outdoors.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You will need to be watched closely. Your doctor may suggest that you have rehab care. This may help you get your brain function back and help you recover faster. It is important that you go to all of your rehab visits.
- Your doctor may refer you to specialists to watch your condition.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Help with dizziness
- Treat or prevent seizures
Will physical activity be limited?
- Physical activity may be limited for some time. Your activities may be limited as long as you have the signs of this health problem.
- Activities that call for thinking or recall might also be limited. Check with your doctor about when you can return to your normal activities.
- If you have had a seizure, check your state laws about driving.
- When you return to work, talk to your doctor and employer about your workload. You may need someone to check your work.
- Make sure teachers know of your problem if you are in school.
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding or swelling in the brain
- Damage to the brain. This may lead to changes in mental, physical, and emotional behavior.
- Seizures
- Low mood
- Hearing, smelling, or eye problems
- Memory loss
- Long-lasting disabilities
- Coma
- Death
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do not drive when you are taking drugs for pain or that cause you to be drowsy. Do not drink alcohol and drive. Do not drive when you are tired.
- Always wear a seatbelt when you drive or ride in a car.
- Wear proper protective equipment when you play sports.
- Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or when skiing or snowboarding or doing other similar activity.
- Stay away from risky activities that may cause falls.
- Wear hard hats and protective gear if you work in construction or other dangerous jobs or if you work on ladders or in high places.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Problems with the brain like: ‚
- More confusion or any change in ability to think clearly
- Not being able to remember things
- Very sleepy (more than expected) or hard to wake up
- Behavior changes, like angry outbursts or thoughts of hurting yourself or others
- Headache gets worse or feels different
Problems with the eyes, ears, or mouth like: ‚
- Trouble speaking or slurred speech
- A change in the size of one pupil (black part of your eye) as compared to the other eye
- Blurry eyesight, double vision, or other problems with eyesight
- Bleeding or clear liquid drainage from the ears or nose
Problems with how you move or feel like: ‚
- Upset stomach and throwing up that wont go away
- Dizziness or fainting
- Staggering or trouble walking
- Weakness or numbness of an arm, leg, or a part of your body
- Stiff neck
- Seizures
- Loss of control of your urine or bowels
- Loss of balance
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you when I can go back to my normal activities.
- I can tell you what I will do to rest my brain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I am more confused or not able to remember things.
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Subdural_haematomas ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/subdural-haematoma/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚