Subdural Hematoma

An acute subdural hematoma is most often caused by severe head trauma. It is more common in elderly people who have had a serious fall and in young people from an accident. This is usually a solid blood clot in the area of the injury.

A chronic subdural hematoma occurs later after the solid blood clot has time to liquify. Once this happens the hematoma can become larger as bleeding into the space between the brain and the dura increases.

The cause is either a ruptured blood vessel or a tear in the brain itself, usually from a fall or an accident or injury. This can be more severe in the elderly because the brain is smaller and the space between the brain and the dura is bigger. Even a small fall can produce disasterous results in the elderly. Symptoms can include headache, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, stroke like symptoms, confusion and falls in the elderly, visual symptoms, and seizures.