Subdural haematoma
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What is a subdural haematoma?
A Subdural haematoma is a collection of blood between the skull and the brain. The brain is surrounded by three tough membranes or dura. These membranes are called the meninges, the outermost membrane is called the dura mater, then the arachnoid and then the pia mater. The space between the two outer membranes (the dura mater and arachnoid) is called the subdural space.
If a blood vessel within this space is damaged, blood can leak out and cause a clot to form, this is called a subdural haematoma. Subdural haematomas are classed as chronic or acute based on the time interval between injury and the onset of signs and symptoms.