What is Head Injury?

Traumatic brain injury, or more commonly called "head injury", is a board term that describes a variety of injuries and damages to the scalp, skull, brain and underlying tissue and blood vessels in the head.

Almost everyone in his or her lifetime sustain some form of trauma to the head. Elderly, babies and those with problems such as alcohol abuse, anti-coagulants therapy are especially prone to serious consequences after a head injury.

Head injury is the leading cause of disabilities and death in adults under 40 years of age. As a result, it has significant impact on the brain-injured patient, family and society.

Common Causes

Head injury occurs most commonly after motor vehicle accidents, fall at home or at work, acts of violence, sports and recreational injuries.

Types of Head Injury

Head injury can be mild to severe in nature, and damage to the brain may occur immediately at the time of injury, or develop after the injury due to swelling or further bleeding.

Normal CT scan of a Brain

 

Linear Skull Fracture

The common types of head injury include.

Scalp injury refers to the bump, cuts and laceration of the scalp.

Treatments include cold compression and suturing.

Skull fractures refers to the break or crack in the skull bone.

• Linear skull fracture Treatment is usually conservation as it does not cause many problems.
• Depressed skull fracture is caused by direct impact onto the skull, which caused the shattered bones to be pushed into the brain. Antibiotics and surgery to prevent further brain injury, bleeding and infection may be needed.

Concussion is a "shake" to the head. Most people recover without any permanent damage. Symptoms such as headache, giddiness, nausea, vomiting etc may persist, but generally will get better over time. Treatment includes medications for symptom relief and adequate rest.

Concussion

 

Contusion - is a "bruise" that may cause tissue damage and bleeding.

Brain Contusion

Haematomas (Blood clots) refers to the collection of blood in one or several locations of the brain. Treatments for contusion and haematomas include observation for worsening of symptoms to removal of blood clots. Prognosis depends on the type, size and effect of the lesions of the brain .

acute extradural haematoma

chronic subdural hematoma

subrachnoid hematoma

 

Signs & Symptoms

Varying degrees of symptoms including temporary or permanent loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, headache, giddiness, and loss of memory may appear associated with the severity of the head injury, the sign and symptoms of a head injury may occur immediately or develop slowly over several hours to days, even if no serious injury is found, careful watching with a responsible adult either at home or hospital must occur in the first 24-48 hours after the injury.

For the 1 st 24 hour after a head injury, the person SHOULD NOT:

• Be left alone

• Drive a vehicle or operate machinery

• Take alcohol or any medications that can cause drowsiness

Call for help or go to the emergency department if:

Any symptoms are getting worse e.g. Sleepiness, headache,

Vomiting, dizziness

• Changes In behaviors e.g. irritability, confusion

• Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs

• Trouble walking or taking

• Fit or seizure

Investigations

X ray may be performed to detect any fractures. CT scan of the brain may be ordered may be ordered if the doctor if the doctor think that there is risk of acute bleeding that can cause life threatening problem. The Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) based on the sum of scores is 3 areas of assessment: eye opening, verbal and mortar response, is tool frequently used in hospital to grade the severity of the head injury that influences treatment decisions and outcome.

Seventy of head injury can be classified as :

Severe : GCS 3-8

Moderate : GCS 9-12

Minor : GCS 13-15

Treatment

Treatment is individualized, depending on the degree and extent of injuries. It ranges from observation for sign of worsening such as drowsiness, increasing headache or giddiness(minor head injury) to removal; of the blood clot in the brain too relieve the pressure monitor (severe head injury). Treatment for most minor head injuries includes symptom relief and adequate rest.

Outcome & Complications

This depends in the type. Location and degree of injury People with a minor head may have concussion syndromes such as slight headache, giddiness, easily tire, decreased concentration etc that may persist for a while, but most recover with no permanent problem. After a severe head injury, please speak to your Doctor.