Presentation
Follow up 5 days after a road traffic accident.
Patient Data
Lenticular-shaped heterogeneously hyperdense epidural hematoma seen contiguous to the left parieto-temporal brain convexity associated with mass effect in the form of effacement of the related cortical sulci and mild compression of the temporal horn of the left lateral ventricle. It measures about 15 mm in thickness.
There is a vertical fracture in the overlying squamous part of the left temporal bone extending up to the parieto-temporal suture with no associated sutural diastasis.
Case Discussion
This case shows the classic appearance of a subacute extradural hemorrhage in a child involved in a head strike.
The patient was treated conservatively.
Not all extradural hematomas need surgical management. This is particularly true for smaller venous hematomas (e.g. those located in the anterior middle cranial fossa). However, very close clinical and imaging follow-ups are required particularly in the first few days.