Epidural Hemorrhage

Description

Epidural hemorrhage is bleeding between the skull and the outermost three membranes, or meninges, that cover the brain. It is caused by injury to an artery that courses along the skull. This condition may be confused with meningitis, which is inflammation of the brain lining. In an epidural hemorrhage, a collection of clotted blood, called a hematoma, forms and rapidly enlarges, increasing pressure within the skull and causing symptoms and sometimes death.

Common signs and symptoms

These symptoms develop within 1 to 96 hours after a head injury:

• Headache that steadily worsens

• Drowsiness or unconsciousness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Inability to move the arms or legs

• Changes in the size of the pupils

Causes

Epidural hemorrhage is caused by laceration of the middle meningeal artery, which courses along the skull; it is often associated with skull fracture.

Factors that increase risk

• Use of anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners), including aspirin and antiinflammatory medications such as ibuprofen

• Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia or aplastic anemia

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