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bob saget's death a reminder of the dangers of head trauma

while hitting your head may not seem to be that critical when it happens, sometimes the trauma can be enough to have devastating consequences.

by emma jones

published feb 11, 2022

last updated feb 17, 2023

3 minute read

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3 minute read

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bob saget death due to "blunt head trauma;" drugs, alcohol not involved: autopsy report

(files) in this file photo taken on december 8, 2021 us actor bob saget attends the "macgruber" screening and premiere at the california science center in los angeles. - us comedian and actor bob saget, whose sudden death last month at a florida hotel shocked hollywood, was determined to have died of head trauma, his family revealed in a statement on february 9, 2022. (photo by michael tran / afp) (photo by michael tran/afp via getty images)

autopsy reports regarding the untimely death of actor bob saget reveal it was not due to a stroke or heart attack, as originally thought, but a brain bleed due to head trauma. “the authorities have determined that bob passed from head trauma,” saget’s family released in a statement. “they have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep. no drugs or alcohol were involved.”

chief medical examiner dr. joshua stephany also confirmed the findings thursday, ruling that the comedian’s death was an accident and “the result of blunt head trauma.” the autopsy report indicates that saget had a subdural hematoma (a buildup of blood on the brain), abrasions on the back of his head, and fractures at the base of his skull and around his eye sockets.

the star of the serial comedy full house

was found unresponsive at the at the ritz-carlton orlando, grande lakes, on january 9. he was 65.

saget had previously revealed that he had covid at the start of the year, although this did not seem to play a role in his death.

subdural hematoma

a subdural hematoma occurs when blood pools between the layers of tissue that protect the brain. between these layers, called the meninges, is cerebrospinal fluid, which helps protect and cushion the brain from the hard walls of the skull. when a blood vessel in the outer layers of the meninges breaks, blood begins to pool and puts pressure on the delicate brain tissue, which can cause serious damage.

according to the mayo clinic, the symptoms associated with a subdural hematoma in adults include; a constant headache, confusion, drowsiness, nausea, abnormal vision, slurred speech, dizziness, loss of coordination or balance, and memory loss or disorientation.

depending on the rate of bleeding, symptoms may only begin to develop a few days after a head injury.

head injuries also depend on the individual’s physiology; an impact one person may walk away from, may cause a traumatic injury to another. there’s also no real threshold to determine what will cause significant damage. while the temple is the area of the head most susceptible to damage in a head impact, there’s just as much risk when dealing with a blow to the back of the head as to the front.

those with the highest risks of developing subdural hematoma include athletes in contact sports, older adults (as the meninges may tear more easily), hemophiliacs and patients on blood thinners (including aspirin). those who drink excessively are also at a greater risk, as liver damage caused by alcohol abuse may lead to poor blood clotting.

when a small hit is a big deal

while hitting your head may not seem to be that critical when it happens, sometimes the trauma can be enough to have devastating consequences.

dr. donato pacione, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at nyu langone, told vice that blows to the head often pose serious risk, particularly for people over 60, who are more likely to develop a bleed that’s life-threatening.

“i think there’s a misconception that unless you get knocked out and lose consciousness, you’re probably not at a major risk,” he said. “but anybody over the age of about 60, if it’s a fall where they hit their head, you have to be vigilant of warning signs, where this might be an issue that could be dangerous.”

while a simple hit to the head from a fall or other activity may seem like not a big deal, pacione also says that it’s a bad idea to try to sleep off any symptoms from hitting your head — even a minor headache — as the condition may worsen while you sleep. instead, let someone know what happened, monitor for new or worsening symptoms, and consider contacting a doctor.

‘we ask everyone to remember the love bob brought to the world’

saget’s family wants him to be known for his kindness and care to the people around him.

“as we continue to mourn together, we ask everyone to remember the love and laughter that bob brought to this world, and the lessons he taught us all: to be kind to everyone, to let the people you love know you love them, and to face difficult times with hugs and laughter.”

emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on twitter @jonesyjourn

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bob saget's death a reminder of the dangers of head trauma

while hitting your head may not seem to be that critical when it happens, sometimes the trauma can be enough to have devastating consequences.

subdural hematoma

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bob saget's death a reminder of the dangers of head trauma

while hitting your head may not seem to be that critical when it happens, sometimes the trauma can be enough to have devastating consequences.

subdural hematoma

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