What Are the Warning Signs of a Hematoma?

A subdural hematoma is a life-threatening condition caused by bleeding in the membranes surrounding the brain, typically due to head trauma. Unlike superficial bruises, subdural hematomas do not show on the skin but instead cause severe headaches, nausea, slurred speech, vision changes, dizziness, weakness, memory loss, or personality changes. Symptoms can appear immediately, within hours, or even weeks after an injury. Urgent medical attention is critical, as early treatment can prevent brain damage or death. Georgia Neurosurgical Institute provides expert care for hematomas, offering advanced treatment across Middle Georgia.

If you experience a superficial hematoma, the signs are easy and familiar: a purplish or yellowish mark surrounding the site of the injury, and some possible lingering soreness – more commonly called a bruise.

A subdural hematoma, on the other hand, is a potentially deadly medical condition that won’t show up on the skin like a normal bruise. Instead, there are a number of specific symptoms that patients who are suffering from a subdural hematoma will generally display.

Since subdural hematomas are life-threatening conditions, it’s important for people to understand the early warning signs and symptoms of a subdural hematoma.

Recognizing the signs early and getting medical attention immediately can make the difference between a complete recovery and significant brain damage or death.

What Is a Subdural Hematoma?

We’ve covered this in depth in some of our recent articles, but – in short – it’s a condition in which a tear or rupture of a blood vessel in the membranes surrounding the brain causes blood to pool and put pressure on the surface of the brain. Fast medical attention is required to remove the excess blood, stop further bleeding, and remove the pressure on the brain.

Subdural hematomas are classified into three types, depending on the speed at which they develop:

Acute hematomas generally cause severe symptoms within a few minutes of the initial trauma
Subacute hematomas generally cause symptoms to appear within hours of the initial trauma
Chronic hematomas may not cause symptoms to appear until days or weeks after the initial trauma

What Causes a Subdural Hematoma?

In most cases, a subdural hematoma is caused by a traumatic injury to the head. There are, however, numerous other conditions such as bleeding disorders like hemophilia or chronic alcohol abuse that can lead to hematomas even when no injury has occurred.

There are six main symptoms of acute and subacute hematomas to be on the lookout for:

The most common symptom is a headache, which is usually severe. The headache caused by a hematoma won’t go away on its own, and usually can’t be treated with standard painkillers like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms of a subdural hematoma.
Sudden dysarthria, or slurred speech, is always cause for concern with any patient, but if it follows a head injury, it can indicate the development of a hematoma.
Changes in vision, such as sudden blurriness or “seeing stars” can mean that the vision centers of the brain are being impacted by a hematoma.
Sudden dizziness, balance issues, and difficulty walking can all be attributed to a subdural hematoma.
Weakness on one side of the body can also indicate that a hematoma is directly impacting one hemisphere of the brain.

If someone is suffering from a chronic subdural hematoma, their symptoms may not appear until well after the head injury that caused the hematoma is long forgotten. Any of the above symptoms can indicate a chronic hematoma, as can:

Sudden memory loss
Disorientation or loss of cognitive function
Unexpected personality changes

What Should I Do If I See These Warning Signs?

Subdural hematomas, especially acute hematomas, are fast-developing, dangerous conditions. The difference between successful treatment and severe negative outcomes is often measured in minutes, so time is absolutely of the essence.

If you or someone else has suffered a head trauma and begins demonstrating any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately. The sooner the patient can get imaging (CT, x-ray, or MRI) of their head and the hematoma found, the more likely they are to enjoy a complete recovery.

It’s especially important to watch older people for signs of a subdural hematoma. The body changes as we age, and some of those changes can cause bleeding to start spontaneously, without an inciting injury. Even if someone hasn’t experienced a traumatic injury, they should see a doctor immediately if they begin showing the above symptoms.

Brain hematomas are serious events that Georgia Neurosurgical Institute is prepared to treat.

The neurosurgeons and team at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute are highly trained and experienced in treating hematomas on the brain with careful precision. The brain is the most important organ in the body—when something happens to risk its function, our team is here to treat the problem swiftly and skillfully. Your head is in good hands when you turn to our practice.

Schedule a consultation with Georgia Neurosurgical Institute today: 478-743-7092

Georgia Neurosurgical Institute offers exceptional treatments for the brain and spine to patients throughout Middle Georgia. With offices in Macon and satellite locations in Dublin, Locust Grove, and Warner Robins, we’re able to treat patients in and around: