Extradural hemorrhage

Alternative names:

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

Symptoms:

• headache, severe
• drowsiness
• confusion
• nausea or vomiting may accompany the headache
• dizziness
• the eyes showing enlarged or uneven pupil size
• weakness of part of the body, usually on opposite side from the side of the enlarged pupil
• head injury or trauma followed by loss of consciousness, then an alert period of time, then rapid deterioration back to unconsciousness

Note: Symptoms usually occur within minutes to hours after a head injury and indicate an emergency situation.

Signs and tests:

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 is highly indicative of an extradural hemorrhage.

An examination may show focal neurologic deficits (localized, specific function changes) or may indicate increased intracranial pressure. An examination may reveal a need for emergency surgery to relieve pressure within the head without further testing to pinpoint the exact location and type of injury.

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