Intracranial Hematomas

Even when the skull itself is not damaged, the brain can suffer serious injuries which can be permanent. In fact, head trauma is the leading cause of disability and death in adults. One type of head injury is an intracranial hematoma, which can affect different areas of the brain with varying severity.

Intracranial hematomas (ICH) occur when a blood vessel ruptures in or around the brain. This can cause a buildup of blood and swelling in the brain, and the pressure caused by this can make for permanent brain damage. You can suffer from an ICH from the same things as basic head injuries, which include:

Auto and bicycle accidents

Slip-and-falls

Car-pedestrian accidents

Construction site accidents

Blunt force trauma

Physical abuse

Severe shaking

ICH are categorized by location, which determine the severity of the injury. The main types of ICH include epidural, subdural, intracerebral, and diffuse axonal injuries (DAI). Epidural hematomas occur when the bruising is beneath the skull, but still above the dura, or the tough lining of the brain. The problem with epidural hematomas is that they can keep growing, which places pressure on the brain. This pressure can eventually cause a person to lose consciousness. Epidural hematomas are also associated with skull fractures.

Subdural hematomas occur slightly deeper than epidurals. The dura, mentioned above, is actually composed of three layers. When a contusion, or bruise, happens within these three layers but still above the brain, it is called a subdural hematoma. Like an epidural, pressure placed on the brain from prolonged bleeding can cause a person to lose consciousness.

There are three types of subdural hematomas: chronic, subacute, and acute. Chronic contusions bleed very slowly, which means that you may not even notice the injury at first. Subacute injuries can also take several days or weeks to notice, but the bleeding is still more severe than chronic hematomas. Lastly, acute bruising occurs pretty much immediately. The bleeding is so severe that signs are almost instantly obvious. The level of bleeding makes these the most life-threatening subdural hematomas.

Intracerebral ICH, or intraparenchymal, are when the bruising happens to the brain itself. Not only does the brain suffer damage at the site of the injury, but the momentum of the brain can make it slide slightly in the skull and strike the opposite site. This results in axonal tearing, which destroys nerves' ability to communicate.

Lastly, diffuse axonal injury, or DAI, occurs when multiple areas of the brain are bruised. This is closely related to intracerebral hematomas, and they are often caused by strong shaking.

If you have suffered from an intracranial hematoma or other such brain injury due to someone else's negligence, you may be able to hold that party liable for their actions. For more information, check out the personal injury attorneys from Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C., today.