Extradural hemorrhage

Alternative names:

epidural hematoma; extradural hematoma; hematoma - epidural; hematoma - extradural

Definition:

A disorder caused by internal bleeding between the skull and the outer membrane covering the brain.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

About 10% of brain injuries are moderate to severe. Of these, only a small part involve extradural (epidural) hemorrhage. An extradural hemorrhage is more common in young people because the membrane covering the brain is not as firmly attached to the skull as it is in older person.

An extradural hemorrhage occurs when there is a rupture of a blood vessel, usually an artery, between the outer membrane covering of the brain (the dura mater) and the skull. The ruptured artery is commonly caused by tearing of the artery after a skull fracture. This is most often the result of a motorcycle or an automobile accident. Extradural hemorrhages can be caused by venous bleeding in young children.

Rapid bleeding causes a collection of blood (hematoma) that presses on the brain tissue causing a rapid increase of pressure in the brain (intracranial pressure) and resultant destruction of the brain tissue.

An extradural hemorrhage is an emergency situation. This condition is a severe and life-threatening complication of any head injury. There may be a rapid progression, within minutes to hours, from unconsciousness to coma, brain damage, and death.