Bleeding in the cranium outside the dura mater, the tough, fibrous outer coat of the brain.
Also known as an extradural hemorrhage, bleeding that leads to a collection of blood outside the dura, which is the outside covering of the central nervous system. An extradural hemorrhage is often the result of head injury and is most commonly caused by tearing of the middle meningeal artery. Symptoms include headache, drowsiness, confusion, seizures, and weakness on one side of the body. These symptoms may occur from within minutes to several hours to a few days after the initial injury. Hospitalization and surgery to remove the clotted blood and relieve pressure in the brain are necessary. The surgery usually involves making a small hole in the skull called a burr hole. Early identification and treatment of an extradural hemorrhage usually results in a good long-term outcome.