Intracranial bleeding and hemorrhages in the brain are often caused by automobile/motorcycle accidents as well as athletic competition, and it’s helpful to understand the different types of bruising and bleeding in the brain and the options available to treat these conditions.
If you’ve suffered a head or brain injury in an accident, seek a full medical evaluation and speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
- Contusions – These refer to bruising on the brain. Some are minor and can heal naturally without specific treatment, while severe brain contusions can be life-threatening when blood leaks into the skull and puts pressure on the brain, which can cause irreversible damage.
- Hemorrhages – These refer to bleeding when blood vessels are broken and release blood either externally or internally. Within the skull, blood may pool into particular parts of the brain, and these may be described as cerebral, intracerebral, or intra-axial hemorrhages. These can be quite serious due to the pressure exerted on delicate brain tissue, and immediate medical intervention may be necessary to relieve intracranial pressure and the buildup of fluid.
Hematomas, as pockets of blood in bodily tissue, are similar to contusions and generally described based on the depth of damage to the brain’s outer layers. There are three common types, the first of which can be further divided into “acute,” “subacute,” and “chronic:”
- Subdural hematoma – These occur when blood vessels rupture “between the brain and the outermost of three membrane layers” which cover the brain, known as the “dura mater.” Acute subdural hematomas are the most dangerous, as they typically result from severe head injuries and signs will appear immediately; subacute subdural hematomas may have delayed signs and symptoms; and chronic subdural hematomas are often classified as “mild” head injuries which involve slower rates of bleeding, though memory loss may eventually result.
- Epidural hematoma – These occur when a blood vessel, usually an artery, ruptures between the skull and the dura mater’s outer surface. The leaking blood may form a mass which can compress and damage brain tissue, and some victims of this injury may immediately fall into a drowsy or comatose state upon impact, which can be fatal.
- Intraparenchymal hemorrhage – This involve bleeding in brain tissue as well as the pooling of blood in the brain. They are similar to intracerebral hematomas, which can damage white matter and tear axons within it; axon damage is especially concerning, as axons carry important electrical impulses from the brain’s neurons to the rest of the body.
Immediate medical intervention is often necessary for these injuries to relieve pressure on the brain and drain excess fluid. Options include:
- A ventriculostomy catheter can relieve intracranial pressure by drilling a hole through the patient’s skull and dura mater to reach a ventricle of the brain and remove the cerebrospinal fluid.
- A craniotomy can allow blood to be suctioned by creating and removing a “bone flap” (a piece of bone cut between three holes drilled into the skull) to reach blood above and beneath the dura mater. The bone flap is not restored in some serious cases with a high risk of recurring hematomas.
If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury in an accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.