What causes epidural hematoma (EDH)?

Updated on

What causes epidural hematoma (EDH)?

An epidural hematoma (EDH) is usually caused by a head injury. A skull fracture occurs in 75% of the cases. A skull fracture that tears the middle meningeal artery is the most common source of bleeding. Occasionally, an EDH can form due to bleeding from a vein.

You can also develop an EDH from non-trauma causes. These causes include:

  • Infection/abscess.
  • Coagulopathy (your blood doesn’t clot as it normally should).
  • Hemorrhagic tumors (tumors that cause bleeding).
  • Vascular malformations (examples include arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations).

Spinal epidural hematomas are most commonly spontaneous bleeds from veins caused by coagulopathies or over-thinning of your blood from anticoagulant medications. Other causes include:

  • Fracture to the bones in your vertebrae.
  • Lumbar puncture, epidural anesthesia.
  • Spinal arteriovenous malformations or other vascular abnormalities.
  • Spinal tumors.
  • Pregnancy.

Related posts