Traumatic Subdural Hematoma

The clinical and pathologic aspects of traumatic subdural hematoma have received full consideration in many previous reviews. Various authors have emphasized the fact that cranial injury may be attended by little or no symptomatology at the time but that evidence of increased intracranial pressure may develop long after the original trauma. Therefore it is not unusual for these patients to be symptom free for several months before developing signs of an intracranial lesion. Various theories have been proposed to explain the prolonged period. Our studies on a patient with bilateral subdural hematomas offers evidence that satisfies the clinical and experimental requirements as an explanation for the latent period so characteristic of this condition. It has been generally agreed that the delayed onset of clinical symptoms is dependent on an augmentation in volume of the blood that is entrapped in the subdural space. Some clinicians believe that repeated bleeding accounts