Management of Traumatic Subgaleal Hematoma

Initial Evaluation

• The American College of Surgeons recommends an urgent neurological assessment, including pupillary examination and Glasgow motor scale, to determine the severity of the injury 1
• A computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain should be performed to rule out associated intracranial injuries, especially in patients with risk factors 1
• Vital signs, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation, glucose, and respiratory pattern, should be evaluated 2

Monitoring and Support

• The World Journal of Emergency Surgery recommends maintaining systolic blood pressure >100 mmHg or mean arterial pressure >80 mmHg to ensure adequate cerebral perfusion 1, 4
• Avoiding hypovolemia is crucial to optimize cerebral perfusion 3, 5

Follow-up

• Patients with moderate to severe cases should be observed clinically for at least 24 hours 1
• Regular neurological evaluations (at least every 4 hours initially) should be performed 3