Why Can the Brain Bleed Weeks After a Head Injury?

If you have been in an accident in New Mexico where your head slammed on a hard surface, be sure to mark the date. You might not have any problems — no headache, no dizziness, no blurry vision — but six weeks down the line, you might. That head injury could lead to a slow brain bleed, which will not show any outside symptoms right away. In fact, it might not even show up on a CT scan. 

chronic subdural hematoma is very slow bleeding in the brain. Older folks are more at risk for it, but it can happen to anyone who has experienced trauma to the brain. Symptoms include the following:

  • Headaches
  • Trouble walking
  • Impaired memory
  • Vomiting
  • Difficulty speaking

The size and location of the hematoma contribute to which symptoms you might feel and how severe they are. Hematomas can be so severe that they lead to a coma, brain damage or even death.

A special surgery can treat a chronic subdural hematoma. Your doctor will check your symptoms and perform an MRI or CT scan. The surgical procedure aims to relieve pressure on your brain by drilling small holes in your skull to allow the blood to come out. Your doctor may perform a craniotomy instead if your blood clot is larger or thicker. That clot will then be pulled out through a temporarily removed patch of your skull. Surgery usually fixes up to 90 percent of chronic subdural hematoma cases.

This article is purely for informational purposes on what a chronic subdural hematoma is, and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

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