Background

Epidural hematoma (ie, accumulation of blood in the potential space between dura and bone) may be
intracranial (EDH) or spinal (SEDH) (see the image below). Intracranial epidural hematoma occurs in
approximately 2% of patients with head injuries and 5-15% of patients with fatal head injuries. Intracranial
epidural hematoma is considered to be the most serious complication of head injury, requiring immediate
diagnosis and surgical intervention. Intracranial epidural hematoma may be acute (58%), subacute (31%), or
chronic (11%). Spinal epidural hematoma may also be traumatic, though it may occur spontaneously.
This MRI demonstrates spinal epidural hematoma.

Pathophysiology
Epidural hematoma usually results from a brief linear contact force to the calvaria that causes separation of the
periosteal dura from bone and disruption of interposed vessels due to shearing stress. Skull fractures occur in
85-95% of adult cases, but they are much less common in children because of the plasticity of the immature
calvaria. Arterial or venous structures may be compromised, causing rapid expansion of the hematoma;
however, chronic or delayed manifestations may occur when venous sources are involved. Extension of the
hematoma usually is limited by suture lines owing to the tight attachment of the dura at these locations. Recent
analyses have revealed that epidural hematomas may actually traverse suture lines in a minority of cases. [1]
The temporoparietal region and the middle meningeal artery are involved most commonly (66%), although the
anterior ethmoidal artery may be involved in frontal injuries, the transverse or sigmoid sinus in occipital injuries,
and the superior sagittal sinus in trauma to the vertex. Bilateral epidural hematomas account for 2-10% of all
acute epidural hematomas in adults but are exceedingly rare in children. Posterior fossa epidural hematomas
represent 5% of all cases of epidural hematomas.
Spinal epidural hematoma may be spontaneous or may follow minor trauma, such as lumbar puncture or
epidural anesthesia. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma may be associated with anticoagulation,
thrombolysis, blood dyscrasias, coagulopathies, thrombocytopenia, neoplasms, or vascular malformations. The
peridural venous plexus usually is involved, though arterial sources of hemorrhage also occur. The dorsal
aspect of the thoracic or lumbar region is involved most commonly, with expansion limited to a few vertebral
levels.

Epidemiology
Frequency
United States
Epidural hematoma complicates 2% of cases of head trauma (approximately 40,000 cases per year). Spinal
epidural hematoma affects 1 per 1,000,000 people annually. Alcohol and other forms of intoxication have been
associated with a higher incidence of epidural hematoma.
International
International frequency is unknown, though it is likely to parallel the frequency in the United States.

Mortality/Morbidity
Mortality rate associated with epidural hematoma has been estimated to be 5-50%.

The level of consciousness prior to surgery has been correlated with mortality rate: 0% for awake
patients, 9% for obtunded patients, and 20% for comatose patients.
Bilateral intracranial epidural hematoma has a mortality rate of 15-20%.
Posterior fossa epidural hematoma has a mortality rate of 26%.

Race
No racial predilection has been reported.

Sex
Intracranial and spinal epidural hematomas are more frequent in men, with a male-to-female ratio of 4:1.

Age

Intracranial epidural hematoma is rare in individuals younger than 2 years.

Intracranial epidural hematoma is also rare in individuals older than 60 years because the dura is
tightly adherent to the calvaria.
Spinal epidural hematoma has a bimodal distribution with peaks during childhood and during the fifth
and sixth decades of life. Increasing age has been noted as a risk factor for postoperative spinal epidural
hematoma.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1137065-overview#showall