Intracranial Hematoma

Intracranial hematomas are accumulations of blood within the brain or between the brain and the skull. An intracranial hematoma may occur because the fluid that surrounds your brain can't absorb the force of a sudden blow or a quick stop. The cause of intracranial bleeding (hemorrhage) usually is a head injury, often resulting from automobile, motorcycle or bicycle accidents, falls, assaults, and sports injuries.

Symptoms may include a persistent headache, drowsiness, confusion, memory changes, paralysis on the opposite side of the body, speech or language impairment, and other symptoms depending on which area of the brain is damaged. Some hematomas don't need to be removed because they're small and produce no signs or symptoms. But because signs and symptoms may appear or worsen days or weeks after the injury, if you don't have surgery, you may have to be watched for neurological changes, have your intracranial pressure monitored and undergo repeated head CT scans.

Blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin used but the treatment may need supportive therapy to reverse the effects of the medication and reduce the risk of further bleeding. Options for reversing blood thinners include administering vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma. Hematoma treatment often requires surgery.