What are the types of hematomas?
Hematomas are often described based upon their location. The most dangerous hematomas are those that occur inside the skull. Because the skull is an enclosed box, anything that takes up space increases pressure within that box and potentially impairs the ability of the brain to function. Epidural hematomas occur because of trauma, often to the temple, where the middle meningeal artery is located. Bleeding accumulates in the epidural space, outside the ‘dura’ which is the lining of the brain. Because of the way the dura is attached to the skull, small hematomas can cause significant pressure and brain injury. Subdural hematomas also occur because of trauma but the injury is usually to the veins in the brain. This causes a slower leak of blood, which enters the ‘subdural’ space below the dura. The space below the dura has much more room for blood to accumulate before brain function suffers. As people age, they lose some brain tissue and the subdural space is relatively larger. Bleeding i
