Subdural hemorrhage

Background

• Often assoc w/ underlying parenchymal damage
• More common in elderly, alcoholics, children <2yr
• May be acute (rapid LOC) or chronic (AMS w/ gradual decrease in consciousness)

Workup

Workup

• Consider head CT (rule out intracranial hemorrhage)
  • Use validated decision rule to determine need
  • Avoid CT in patients with minor head injury who are at low risk based on validated decision rules.
• Consider cervical and/or facial CT

Differential Diagnosis

Intracranial Hemorrhage Types

• Intra-axial
  • Hemorrhagic stroke (Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage)
  • Traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage
• Extra-axial
  • Epidural hemorrhage
  • Subdural hemorrhage
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (aneurysmal intracranial hemorrhage)

See Also

• Intracranial Hemorrhage (Main)
• Head Trauma