Brain injury; Head trauma; Concussion

• Always use safety equipment during activities that could result in head injury. These include seat belts, bicycle or motorcycle helmets, and hard hats.
• Obey traffic signals when riding a bicycle. Be predictable so that other drivers will be able to determine your course.
• Be visible. Do NOT ride a bicycle at night unless you wear bright, reflective clothing and have proper headlamps and flashers.
• Use age-appropriate car seats or boosters for babies and young children.
• Make sure that children have a safe area in which to play.
• Supervise children of any age.
• Do NOT drink and drive, and do NOT allow yourself to be driven by someone whom you know or suspect has been drinking alcohol or is otherwise impaired.

Heegaard WG, Biros MH. Head. In: Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2009:chap. 38.

Atabaki SM. Pediatric head injury. Pediatr Rev. 2007;28(6):215-224.

Images

Intracerebellar hemorrhage - CT scan

Concussion

Bicycle helmet - proper usage

Indications of head injury

Head injury

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Head injury Treatment

Review Date: 01/12/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)