Dangers of subdural hematomas

People in Missouri should be aware that in some cases, what seems like a tiny blow to the head can result in a serious brain injury. A subdural hematoma occurs when the brain is jostled and veins tear. This causes a slow bleed, and the resulting pressure leads to symptoms similar to those from a brain tumor. It is believed that older people are more likely to sustain a subdural hematoma because aging brains tend to shrink away from the protective membrane, leaving veins vulnerable to tears.

Most minor bumps do not cause problems, and most subdural hematomas heal themselves without being discovered. However, in one case, a man bumped his head in an attic. Weeks later, he found that he was weak, shuffling, dropping things and finding his thinking to be different than normal. He visited a neurosurgeon who ordered an MRI that revealed a pool of blood pressing on his brain. He did not recall the injury until he was being wheeled to emergency surgery because it was so minor.

Another man had a similar experience. He visited a doctor after suffering chronic low-grade headaches and his driving began to be affected. After he was rushed to the hospital, a doctor vacuumed about 8 ounces of blood from his head. It took some time for the man to remember a minor bump to his head weeks earlier.

A subdural hematoma is only one type of head injury that a person might suffer. Some traumatic brain injuries may have severe, long-term effects. A person who has sustained an injury in an accident that is a result of someone else’s negligence may want to sue the responsible party. In the event of a slip-and-fall accident at a retail business where obstacles were unsafely placed in aisles, the company might be held responsible. A personal injury attorney can be of assistance in this regard.