I was left with a hole in the skull after hematoma evacuation. Is it safe?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. A small piece of the skull bone could be cut and the hole in the bone was made. According to the reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity), there isno residual brain damage. Under these circumstances, I can explain your headache as follows. The pain around the burr hole may be due to fibrosis and scar formation, which makes the scalp tough. Skin traction around the burr hole may be due to this scar formation. Treatment is usually symptomatic with pain medications. The headache mayalso be related to post-traumatic stress disorder. You should see a psychiatrist for diagnosis and therapy. Treatment may include antidepressants and behavioral therapy. Given that there is no evidence of residual head injury, your headache may be unrelated to the prior injury. It may simply be tension headache, which is very common. Treatment is with pain medications and avoiding the stressors.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Yes, it is safe to live a normal life with the hole in the skull. Many patients, who undergo surgery for traumatic brain injury or for other conditions such as tumor, have these holes. Plates and screws are used to fix the bone flap in place and not to close the hole. If you have recovered from the initial injury, extradural hematoma has a very good outcome and there is almost zero chance that you will have delayed sequel. It is fine to massage the skin around the hole, but should not cause any harm.