Acute traumatic intracranial haematoma without skull fracture

307 cases of acute traumatic intracranial haematoma in patients admitted to the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow have been analysed for various presenting features. 57 (19%) had no fracture, and 14 had neither a fracture nor neurological symptoms and signs immediately after the injury. Apart from the children, immediate admission and observation of these 14 cases for a period of 24 hours rarely led to the early detection of a haematoma.