haematoma

Definition haematoma

haematoma: haematoma n. an accumulation of blood within the tissues that clots to form a solid swelling. Injury, disease of the blood vessels, or a clotting disorder of the blood are the usual causative factors. An intracranial haematoma causes symptoms by compressing the brain and by raising the pressure within the skull. Injury to the head may tear the middle meningeal artery, giving rise to a rapidly accumulating extradural haematoma requiring urgent surgical treatment. In elderly people a relatively slight head injury may tear the veins where they cross the space beneath the dura, giving ruse to a subdural haematoma. Excellent results are obtained by surgical treatment. An intracerebral haematoma may be a subsequence of severe head injury bit is more often due to *atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries and high blood pressure. See also perianal haematoma.