Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- evidence of trauma
- headache
- nausea/vomiting
- diminished eye response
- diminished verbal response
- diminished motor response
- confusion
Other diagnostic factors
- loss of consciousness/decreased alertness
- seizure
- loss of bowel and bladder continence
- localised weakness
- sensory changes
- cognition changes
- speech or vision changes
- otorrhoea
- rhinorrhoea
Risk factors
- recent trauma
- coagulopathy and anticoagulant use
- advanced age (>65 years)
Diagnostic investigations
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis
MN
Disclosures
AWG declares that he has no competing interests.
Dr Andrew W. Grande would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Stephen J. Haines, Dr Praveen R. Baimeedi, Dr Jason S. Hauptma, and Dr Neil A. Martin, previous contributors to this topic. SJH, PRB, JSH, and NAM declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Resident
Department of Neurosurgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia
PA
Disclosures
NJR declares that he has no competing interests.
Instructor
Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine Administrative Offices
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA
Disclosures
MM declares that he has no competing interests.
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