An intracranial hematoma occurs when a blood vessel - either an artery or a vein - ruptures between your skull and your brain. Blood then leaks between your brain and your skull. Although head injuries can be minor, an intracranial hematoma is a serious and possibly life-threatening condition often requiring immediate treatment.

Your brain floats within your skull and is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions it from the light bounces of everyday movement. But the fluid may not be able to absorb the force of a sudden blow or a quick stop. In these situations, your brain may slide forcefully against the inner wall of your skull and become bruised.

An intracranial hematoma occurs when a blood vessel - either an artery or a vein - ruptures between your skull and your brain. Blood then leaks between your brain and your skull. The collection of blood (hematoma), possibly clotted, compresses brain tissue.

Treating hematomas usually requires surgery to remove the blood. However, smaller hematomas may not require removal of the blood.

Prevention

These steps may help to prevent or minimize head injury:

• Use recreational safety equipment. Wear appropriate and properly fitting safety equipment during sports, including a helmet when bicycling, motorcycling, skiing, horseback riding, skating or doing any activity that may result in head injury.

• Buckle your seat belt. Doing so may prevent or minimize damage to your head in a motor vehicle accident.

• Protect your kids. To protect children, use properly fitting car seats, pad countertops and edges of tables, block off stairways, and keep children from climbing upon unsafe or unsteady objects.