An intracranial hematoma in California is a potentially life-threatening traumatic brain injury. It causes blood to collect and pool inside the skull, putting pressure on the brain.
If you or someone you know experiences an intracranial hematoma, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as you can. However, you may not realize right away that a hematoma may have taken place. In the first place, it is a closed head injury that can occur without any fracture of the skull or penetration of a foreign object into the brain. In the second place, the signs and symptoms of a hematoma may take days or even weeks to show up, although they can also occur right away.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three different categories of intracranial hematoma. Their names indicate their location within the skull. When blood pools within the brain itself, it is an intraparenchymal hematoma. Several of these can occur at the same time as a result of a head trauma. They can also occur without trauma due to vascular malformation or aneurysm rupture.
There are several layers of membranes called dura mater that cover your brain. An epidural hematoma occurs between the outermost layer of the dura mater and the inside of the skull. A subdural hematoma occurs between the innermost dural layer and the brain itself. In either case, the mass of collected blood can put pressure on the brain. Left untreated, either type of hematoma can cause death.
Symptoms of an intracranial hematoma from trauma include loss of consciousness, blurred vision, weakness/unsteadiness, vomiting and persistent headache. If these symptoms are present after a head injury, you should seek medical attention right away.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.