Article Sections

Introduction

Epidural hematomas (EDHs) and subdural hematomas (SDHs) are intracranial hemorrhages occurring within the skull but outside the brain tissue (ie, extraaxial hemorrhages).  Both almost always result from head trauma and typically require urgent surgical treatment.

EDHs and SDHs are distinguished by their location relative to the dura mater, which results from the different types of vessel injury and explains their different clinical features.  SDHs are further classified as acute or chronic.

The other major type of extraaxial hemorrhage is subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).  Although SAHs can also result from trauma, they have another classic mechanism (ruptured saccular aneurysm), usually require different management, and are covered in detail separately.

Anatomy

Beneath the skull, the brain is covered by 3 membrane layers that function to protect the CNS (hence the name

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