HEAD INJURY.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS A HEAD INJURY?
1.1. Introduction
1.2. What is a head injury
2. CAUSES OF HEAD INJURY
3. TYPES OF HEAD INJURY
3.1. Classification of head injuries
3.2. Concussion
3.3. Hemorrhage
3.4. Hematoma
3.5. Edema
3.6. Skull Fracture
4. SYMPTOMS OF HEAD INJURY
4.1. Symptoms of head injury
4.2. Symptoms of minor head injuries
4.3. Symptoms of severe head injuries
5. DIAGNOSIS OF HEAD INJURY
5.1. GCS
5.2. CT scan
5.3. MRI
6. TREATMENT FOR HEAD INJURY
6.1. Medication
6.2. Surgery
6.3. Rehabilitation
1. WHAT IS A HEAD INJURY ?
1.1.Introduction It is very common for people to
This article provides information suffer a head injury, which is
often caused by an accident, a
on minor head injuries and head
fall, a sports injury, or by an attack
injury (traumatic brain injury) (assault).
in adults. It provides information
on the different levels of head The brain is not affected by most
injury and is divided into sections head injuries, and once the person
on minor head injuries and has recovered, they are unlikely to
cause any ongoing problems.
moderate to severe injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
(types). It also provides occur when head injuries cause
information on tests and damage to the brain. In some
investigations (diagnosis), cases, people who have suffered
possible treatments, recovery, a brain injury may take longer to
rehabilitation and returning to recover and may experience long-
everyday activities. term effects. The terms 'head
injury' and 'TBI' are sometimes
Sources of advanced support and
used interchangeably to describe
information and details on injuries to the brain, however not
requesting references will be all head injuries cause brain
established at the end of this damage.
article .
1.2. What is a head injury?
When a force outside the body
strikes the head, it results in a
head injury.
2. Causes of Head Injuries
Head Trauma: First Aid
2.1. What are the causes of According to the Ministry of health of Saudi
Arabia call the ambulance and seek
head injuries medical help if the following symptoms
are involved:
Based on what causes the injury, • Loss of consciousness;
head injuries can generally be • Worsening headache;
• Drastic changes in behavior (such as
divided into two categories. There
anger or confusion);
are two main types of head • Trouble understanding, speaking or
injuries: those caused by blows to walking;
the head and those triggered by • Impaired senses (such as hearing loss
shaking of the head. and vision impairment).
• Recurrent vomiting;
• Inability to remember incidents before
Generally, head injuries caused by or after the injury;
shaking occur in infants and • Weakness or numbness in the arms or
young children, but they can legs;
happen at any time when a person • Seizures;
• Leaking of blood or a fluid from the ear
encounters violent shaking.
or the nose.
• Memory loss;
The following are the most • Problems breathing.
common consequences of head
injuries caused by blows to the STAY FOCUSED
head: • If the injured person is bleeding, try to
stop the bleeding by using gauze, or a
o motor vehicle clean cloth.
• If the wound is open, do not touch or
o accidents apply pressure on it. Cover or wrap the
wound with a clean piece of gauze
o falls (bandage) instead.
• If the person is vomiting while sitting,
o physical assaults help them to lean forward. If the
person is vomiting while lying down,
o sports-related accidents roll their body to the side to prevent
choking.
• If the person is awake, instruct them
Most of the time, the skull will not to move their head and neck. This
protect the brain from any serious can help prevent further damage to
harm. However, injuries severe their spine and brain.
enough to result in a head injury • If the person is unconscious and
can also be associated with breathing, try to stabilize their body.
This includes keeping their neck and
injuries to the spine. head in line with their spine.
• If the person is unconscious and not
breathing, begin the process of CPR.
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3. TYPES OF HEAD INJURY
3.1.
3.1. Head injuries classification
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries are often described by how severe the
injury is (i.e. minor, moderate or severe).
Health professionals might also describe the injury using one of the following
terms:
• closed – when the brain has been affected by a strong force, like a blow
to the head, but without fracturing the skull
• penetrating – when something pierces the skull, for example a brick
• crushing – when the head has been squeezed
3.2. Concussions
A concussion is classified as minor
head injury, also a temporary (short-lived)
injury to the brain.
The signs of a concussion begin almost
immediately after an injury, but it may take
longer to appear. It often include:
• losing consciousness (passing out>
30min)
• headaches
• feeling sick and vomiting
• dizziness
• unusual behavior
• problems with concentration, memory,
balance and/or coordination.
Concussion is recognized as a mild TBI.
Some people can experience ongoing
symptoms that are sometimes referred to as ‘post-concussion syndrome.
3.3. Hemorrhage
A hemorrhage is more moderate to severe head injury that seen as
uncontrolled bleeding. The bleeding can occur in the space around the brain,
called subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding within the brain tissue, called
intracerebral hemorrhage.
Subarachnoid hemorrhages usually result in headaches and vomiting. The severity
of intracerebral hemorrhages depends on how much bleeding there is, but
eventually any amount of blood can cause pressure buildup.
3.4. Hematoma
A hematoma is also result from a moderate to sever head injury that when a
collection, or clotting, of blood form outside the blood vessels. It could be very
serious if a hematoma developed in the brain. The clotting can lead to pressure
building up inside.
3.5. Edema
Any brain injury can induce edema, or swelling. Most injuries result in swelling of
the surrounding tissues, but it’s more dangerous when it occurs in the brain
cerebral edema(CE). The skull can’t stretch to accommodate the swelling which
leads to pressure buildup in the brain, causing the brain to press against the skull.
3.6. Skull fracture
Occasionally, head injuries may result in skull fractures, that is, breaks in
the bone structure that surrounds the brain.
Skull fractures can be classified into the following types:
• In a closed fracture, the skin over the fracture has not broken and the
fracture remains intact and there is no damage to the surrounding
tissue
• A compound fracture (open fracture) is one in which the skin and
tissue over the fracture have been broken. Possibly the brain, as well
as the bone, can be seen
• Linear fracture - no movement of the skull bones caused by the
fracture. In some cases, the fracture may appear straight, or it may
be displaced
• A depressed skull is one where a portion of the skull has moved
inwards
• Basal – can be defined as a fracture at the base of the skull
If someone has a fractured skull, they often will be kept in hospital for
observation. The treatment depends on the type of fracture and either if
there is risk of any damage being provoked to the brain.
Infection risks increase with open skull fractures and antibiotics mostly will
be given to prevent it.
Simple and linear fractures usually heal themselves over time with no
specific treatment. However, depressed fracture or a basal fracture, may
require surgery to prevent damage and to repair the skull.
4. SYMPTOMS OF HEAD INJURY
4.1. Symptoms of head injury
The head has more blood vessels than any other part of the body, so
bleeding on the surface of the brain or within the brain is a matter of great
concern. Nevertheless, bleeding might not always combine with head
injury, and
It is important to be aware of other symptoms to watch out for. Symptoms
might not appear right away. always continue to monitor the symptoms for
several days after head injury.
4.2. Symptoms of minor head injury
Figured explaining the symptoms of minor head injuries
4.3. Symptoms of severe head injury
Symptoms of severe head injury may include:
o loss of consciousness
o seizures
o vomiting
o balance or coordination problems
o serious disorientation
o an inability to focus the eyes
o abnormal eye movements
o a loss of muscle control
o a persistent or worsening headache
o memory loss
o changes in mood
o leaking of clear fluid from the ear or the nose
5. DIAGNOSIS OF HEAD INJURY
if the score changes as part of
monitoring the condition.
5.1. Glasgow Coma Scale
(GCS) 5.2. CT scan
CT stands for computerized
One of the first ways doctors
tomography. Which is a special
assess any head injury is with the
kind of X-ray that uses a computer
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The
program to generate detailed
GCS is a 15-point test (seen in
three- dimensional (3D) images of
3.1) that assesses the mental
the body, including the brain.
status. A high GCS score
During the CT scan the patient is
suggests a less severe injury.
asked to lie on a flat bed that
Changes to the level of
moves through the middle of the
consciousness and how alert the
scanner. The scanner rotates
person is can show if the brain
around the head to generate the
has been affected by a head
3D images. It is one of the
injury.
quickest and most painless
A score is given according to a examinations. A CT scan provide
series of simple tests. including more information and detail about
answering questions, asking to the head injury in addition to
follow instructions and checking monitor for changes that might
reflexes. need further treatment. The
patient may have more than one
The tests usually repeated to see scan.
5.3. MRI
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. A type of checkup that
uses magnetic fields and radio waves( rather ofX-rays) to deliver 3D
images of the body, including the brain. MRI reviews produce a
different image toX-ray based reviews, similar as CT reviews, and
can give more detailed information about injuries.
During an MRI checkup the patient will lie on a flat bed which moves
through the middle of the scanner. The length of the checkup can
differ and it can be noisy.
6. TREATMENT
6.1. Medication It can be necessary to operate an
If severe brain injury was involved , emergency surgery to prevent further
anti-seizure medication would be damage to the brain. For example,
considered. risk for seizures increases doctors may need to operate to:
in the week following the injury. o remove a hematoma
diuretics may also be prescribed if the o repair your skull
injury has caused pressure buildup in o release some of the
the brain. Diuretics causes excretion pressure in your skull
more fluids. This will help relieve
some of the pressure.
If the injury is serious, medication 6.3. Rehabilitation
that induce comas may be given. This brain injury most likely need
mostly considered appropriate rehabilitation to regain full brain
treatment if blood vessels were function. The type of rehabilitation the
damaged. When the patient is in a patient will get will depend on what
coma, the brain won’t need as much functionality they lost as a result of
oxygen and nutrients as it normally that injury. In plenty of these cases
does. people need help regaining mobility
and speech..
6.2. Surgery
References:
- Brain&Spine foundation. Head injury a guide for patient and
carers. Jan, 2023. Pg 5-40. Brainandspine.
- Ministry of health SA. First Aid. Nov, 2019. MOH.
- Lauren R. Head Injury. Sep, 2018. Ed,Seunggu Han. Healthline.
