Post-traumatic subdural hygroma: case report

Subdural Hygroma (SDG) is described in the literature as a common complication of blunt head trauma occurring in a reported 5-20% of all closed head injuries. The Emergency Physician will likely encounter this type of lesion and it is useful to have an understanding of its significance, its relationship to subdural hematoma (SDH), and management strategies. Although surgical intervention is often advocated in the treatment of intracranial fluid collections causing mass effect, there are several reported cases of spontaneous resolution of uncal and central herniation via conservative management alone. The authors report a case of a 90-year-old woman who presented to the Emergency Department 5 days after falling and sustaining a closed head injury with computed tomography (CT) scan evidence of mid-line shift.