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Updated: Feb 6 2017

Epidural Hematoma

Snapshot
  • epiduralA 28-year-old snow skier strikes a tree and was not wearing a helmet. He loses consciousness for several minutes but later regains consciousness and reports feeling fine. Several hours later his neurological state decompensates acutely. His CT scan is shown.
Introduction

  • A traumatic intracranial hemorrhage following temporal bone skull fracture resulting in tearing of the middle meningeal artery
    • the middle meningeal artery passes through the foramen spinosum of the sphenoid bone
  • Resultant rapid expansion of the hematoma with high arterial pressure can lead to
    •  transtentorial herniation
Presentation
  • Symptoms
    • momentary loss of consciousness
    • lucid period up to 48 hours
    • headache, nausea, hemiparesis
  • Physical exam
    • CN III palsy (if tentorial herniation present)
Evaluation
  • CT
    • lens-shapedbiconvex hyperdensity not crossing sutures 
Differential
  •  Subdural hematoma, subarachnoid bleed
Treatment 
  • Surgical 
    • evacuate hematoma 
  • Medical management of increased intracerebral pressure
    • mannitol
    • hyperventilate
    • steroids/ventricular shunt
Prognosis, Prevention, and Complications
  • Prognosis better than for subdurals
Question
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