Derek Hough’s Wife, Haley Erbert, Undergoes Emergency Brain Surgery

On Thursday, Derek Hough, the Dancing with the Stars judge, disclosed that his wife, Hayley Erbert, had been admitted to the hospital after she experienced a cranial hematoma at their performance on the Symphony of Dance tour.

In an Instagram post, Hough explained the situation, “At the end of last night’s tour performance in Washington, D.C., my wife Hayley became disoriented and was taken to the hospital.”  

He continued, “She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. She is in stable condition.”

Hough extended his appreciation to the first responders and medical staff who diligently cared for Erbert, and asked for “prayers and positivity during this time.”

The incident has sparked curiosity and concern about the nature of Erbert’s condition. 

A cranial hematoma refers to the accumulation of blood within the skull, which exerts pressure on the brain. It can occur when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain or due to traumatic events like car accidents, falls, or other accidents.

This condition is potentially fatal and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a cranial hematoma include severe headaches, vomiting, drowsiness, progressive loss of consciousness, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, paralysis on one side of the body, and more. Erbert’s specific case of intracranial hematoma necessitated a craniectomy, which is a significant surgical procedure involved with the brain.

In a craniectomy, doctors typically shave a portion of the head and make an incision to expose the skull. Specialized tools are then used to create openings in the bone, which allow for the removal of a portion of the skull. This enables doctors to extract blood clots or excess fluids and alleviate pressure on the brain. The skull is left open until the swelling and pressure subside.

After the surgery, patients typically wear a protective helmet until they undergo a follow-up procedure known as a cranioplasty. A cranioplasty sees the replacement of a section of the skull that was removed in the initial craniectomy.

Recovery from a craniectomy can be a lengthy process, with some individuals never able to fully regain their previous level of functioning. On average, the skull takes around two months to heal. In certain cases, occupational and physical therapy may be required if neurological issues persist after recovery.

In 2014, Hough told uInterview exclusively about playing the romantic lead in the Korean dance film, Make Your Move. Starring alongside international K-pop sensation BoA, Hough plays Donny in the Romeo-and-Juliet-inspired flick. He admitted to uInterview that at first he didn’t know who BoA was. “I didn’t know anything really about BoA when I first heard about her,” Hough told uInterview. “How I was introduced to her was going to the Staples Center and going to a sold-out concert at the Staples Center, which is kind of mind-blowing, seeing as I haven’t heard of her before and it was just crazy. The fans were wild and it was a pretty cool experience.”