Subdural haematoma
Meaning of subdural haematoma: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, subdural haematoma: (a) means bleeding into the space between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater in the skull or spinal cord; and (b) includes acute and chronic forms of subdural haematoma; and (c) excludes bleeding from a neoplasm and an extension of bleeding into the subdural space from subarachnoid haemorrhage or from an intracerebral haemorrhage. (3) While subdural haematoma attracts ICD-10-AM code S06.5 or I62.0, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of subdural haematoma is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM), Tenth Edition, effective date of 1 July 2017, copyrighted by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, ISBN 978-1-76007-296-4.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 100 of 2019
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting subdural haematoma or death from subdural haematoma with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for intracranial subdural haematoma only: (a) experiencing head trauma within the four months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (b) having intracranial neurosurgery or penetrating cranial trauma within the 30 days before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (c) having active epilepsy at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (d) having an epileptic seizure within the four months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (e) having a specified form of dementia at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; or (f) having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: head trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: active epilepsy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: specified form of dementia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)undergoing a cerebrospinal procedure within the two months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: cerebrospinal procedure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)for spinal subdural haematoma only, experiencing trauma to the spinal region within the 30 days before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: trauma to the spinal region is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)undergoing antithrombotic therapy within the two weeks before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: antithrombotic therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)taking at least 700 milligrams of aspirin within a seven day period before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma, and where the last dose of aspirin was taken no more than seven days before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (6)having an acquired disorder resulting in impaired haemostasis at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: Examples of acquired disorders which have impaired haemostasis include, but are not limited to, thrombocytopaenia, cirrhosis of the liver and aplastic anaemia.
- (7)undergoing haemodialysis within the one week before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (8)having a cerebrospinal fluid shunt at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (9)having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (10)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for subdural haematoma;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(10) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 101 of 2019
9 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, subdural haematoma or death from subdural haematoma is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for intracranial subdural haematoma only: (a) experiencing head trauma within the two months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (b) having intracranial neurosurgery or penetrating cranial trauma within the two weeks before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (c) having active epilepsy at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (d) having an epileptic seizure within the two months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; (e) having a specified form of dementia at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma; or (f) having alcohol use disorder at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: head trauma is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: active epilepsy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: specified form of dementia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)undergoing a cerebrospinal procedure within the two months before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: cerebrospinal procedure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)for spinal subdural haematoma only, experiencing trauma to the spinal region within the two weeks before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: trauma to the spinal region is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)undergoing antithrombotic therapy within the two weeks before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: antithrombotic therapy is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (5)taking at least 700 milligrams of aspirin within a seven day period before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma, and where the last dose of aspirin was taken no more than seven days before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (6)having an acquired disorder resulting in impaired haemostasis at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
Note: Examples of acquired disorders which have impaired haemostasis include, but are not limited to, thrombocytopaenia, cirrhosis of the liver and aplastic anaemia.
- (7)undergoing haemodialysis within the one week before the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (8)having a cerebrospinal fluid shunt at the time of the clinical onset of subdural haematoma;
- (9)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for subdural haematoma;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(9) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
