Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Subdural hemorrhage is one type of intracranial hemorrhage [hemorrhage - intracranial] . It usually follows trauma to the head. Some cases are associated with specific diseases such as Menkes disease. Individuals with cerebral atrophy, such as persons with Alzheimer disease and chronic alcoholism [alcoholism - chronic] are particularly prone to subdural hematomas because the surface blood vessels of the brain that drain into the  superior sagittal sinus have little support and tear when after movement of the brain within the cranial cavity. A subdural hemorrhage may follow an acute hemorrhage, but many individuals accumulate blood in the subdural space of time. A chronic subdural hematoma is encapsulated by a membrane. Treatment of a subdural hemorrhage is surgical removal.