I have been assisting my colleague, James Drydale, on a recent case involving a missed sub-dural haematoma, which has had a devastating impact on our client.
What is a sub-dural haematoma and what does a misdiagnosis mean?
A sub-dural haematoma is a very serious condition which is usually caused by a head injury.
It can happen very quickly after a head injury and occurs when a blood vessel in the space between the skull and the brain (the sub-dural space) ruptures or bursts, which causes blood to escape into this space and then causes a clot to form (haematoma).
The clot then presses on the brain and causes a build-up of pressure, which can be very dangerous. This can then cause the brain to swell and press against the wall of the skull, which increases the pressure, causing headaches and confusion.
If a sub-dural haematoma is not treated, it can lead to permanent damage to the brainstem, which can badly affect how your body is able to function. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important.
When should you seek medical treatment?
It is very common for sub-dural haematomas to be caused by falls (such as Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident), violent assaults, cycling accidents, motor vehicle accidents and sports (such as head collisions in football). Symptoms include:-
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of memory
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Changes in behaviour
If you have suffered any blow to the head and are experiencing symptoms, always seek medical attention. Sub-dural haematomas are diagnosed based on a person’s history, symptoms and the results of a brain imaging scan, such as a CT scan.
What happens if it is missed or misdiagnosed?
We have been involved in cases where a patient has suffered a blow to the head and has presented with symptoms, but has not been properly investigated. As a result, a sub-dural haematoma was missed. If it is missed or not diagnosed at an early stage, a sub-dural haematoma can cause permanent and serious damage to your brain.
If a sub-dural haematoma is not diagnosed at an early stage, the impact of your injury can be much more serious.
If you have suffered an injury to your brain, you may require care and recovery time and might even need treatment from a special neuro-rehabilitation team, which can include physiotherapy and speech therapy.
The level of damages you could recover will depend on how much help you will need and on how serious the effects of your brain injury have been.
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