From the Research
A subdural hemorrhage in the right frontal region of the brain can cause several neurological deficits, including contralateral weakness or paralysis, headaches, altered consciousness, personality changes, speech and language deficits, seizures, and cognitive impairments. These deficits result from compression of brain tissue by the accumulating blood between the dura mater and arachnoid layers, causing direct pressure on the frontal lobe and potentially shifting brain structures. The severity of symptoms depends on the size of the hemorrhage, how quickly it develops, and the patient's age and baseline brain health.
Key Neurological Deficits
- Contralateral (left-sided) weakness or paralysis, particularly affecting the face and upper limb more than the lower limb
- Headaches
- Altered consciousness ranging from mild confusion to coma
- Personality changes such as disinhibition, poor judgment, or apathy due to frontal lobe damage
- Speech and language deficits, especially if the dominant hemisphere is affected
- Seizures as common complications
- Cognitive impairments including problems with attention, concentration, and executive functions like planning and decision-making According to the most recent study 1, patients with extra-arachnoid subdural hematomas have significantly better 2-week neurological outcomes and lower mortality than predicted by the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury model. Prompt medical or surgical intervention is essential to prevent worsening of these deficits and improve outcomes, as supported by the findings of 1, which suggest that neurosurgeons should consider surgery for this patient subset even in cases of poor neurological examination, older age, and large hematoma with high degree of midline shift.