Background: Delayed
Subacute. Signs and symptoms take time to develop, sometimes days or weeks after the injury. Chronic. The result of less severe head injuries, this type of hematoma can cause slow bleeding, and symptoms can take weeks and even months to appear.
A brain bleed is the second most common cause of stroke next to blood vessel obstruction (cerebral ischemia ). Symptoms include head pain, vision changes, and weakness on one side of the body. A brain bleed is diagnosed with imaging tests and may require surgery to stop the bleeding and relieve pressure on the brain.
The frequency of delayed traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage is variable but is reported to occur in 1% to 8% of patients with severe head injury.
Subdural hematoma is usually caused by a head injury, such as from a fall, motor vehicle collision, or an assault. The sudden blow to the head tears blood vessels that run along the surface of the brain. This is referred to as an acute subdural hematoma.
Causes of Head Injuries and Brain Bleeds
Common causes include car accidents, work accidents, sports injuries, product liability injuries, and falls. Any one of these can cause a head injury with a brain bleed.
Symptoms of brain hemorrhage
Sudden or severe headache. Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (often on one side) Nausea or vomiting. Changes in vision.
The most common symptom of a brain bleed is a sudden onset headache, which most patients describe as the worst headache of their life. “Even people with migraines tell you this headache is worse than any migraine,” he says. Even some stroke patients will describe having a bad headache.
Anyone can develop a subdural haematoma after a severe head injury. Chronic subdural haematomas form gradually a few weeks after a minor head injury. These are more commonly seen in older people and those who take anticoagulant ("blood-thinning") medicine, drink excessively, or have another medical condition.
Health care providers follow guidelines that recommend performing CT scans only for patients who are at higher risk for skull fractures or bleeding in the brain. Most people with head injuries do not have either of these problems, and simple concussions do not show up on a CT scan.
Each concussion in each person is somewhat unique and so is their recovery timetable. In general though, most concussion symptoms resolve within 14 to 21 days. However, undiagnosed, unrecognized or poorly treated concussions can delay your recovery – increasing it from the typical two weeks to months or even longer.
CT scan. This imaging test can detect bleeding in the brain. While a CT scan is a highly effective test when performed properly, the scan may not find the bleed if you have a low red blood cell count (anemia) and only a small amount of blood is lost during the bleed.
Many hemorrhages do not need treatment and go away on their own. If a patient is exhibiting symptoms or has just had a brain injury, a medical professional may order a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check for brain hemorrhages.
Occasionally, a blow to the head may be severe enough to cause bleeding in or around the brain. This type of bleeding can cause an intracranial hematoma, a serious condition that puts pressure on the brain.
If you have a subdural hematoma, blood is leaking out of a torn vessel into a space below the dura mater, a membrane between the brain and the skull. Symptoms include ongoing headache, confusion and drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, slurred speech and changes in vision. Subdural hematomas can be serious.
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is any bleed located underneath one of the protective layers of the brain known as the arachnoid layer. A subarachnoid haemorrhage can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
A brain hemorrhage can cause death within 12–24 hours if the bleeding is extensive and rapid.
Some patients recover completely. Possible complications include stroke, loss of brain function, seizures, or side effects from medications or treatments. Death is possible, and may quickly occur despite prompt medical treatment.
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is an uncommon type of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. It's a very serious condition and can be fatal.
Generally, CT is the optical imaging procedure used for detecting severe head trauma, and it allows for precise diagnosis assistance [3]. Compared to other scanning methods, CT scanning tools provide fast image acquisition time, early symptoms of a brain hemorrhage.
Symptoms of a head injury
You may be dizzy or disoriented right afterward. You also may have problems focusing or remembering. Other symptoms include ringing in your ears, neck pain, emotional or vision problems. These symptoms often go away in a few weeks but may last longer if the injury is severe.
Watch for changes in breathing and alertness.
Head trauma that results in concussion symptoms need to be evaluated by a medical professional. Concussion symptoms include nausea, unsteadiness, headaches or difficulty concentrating.