Brain injury; Head trauma; Concussion

The symptoms of a head injury can occur immediately or develop slowly over several hours or days. Even if the skull is not fractured, the brain can bang against the inside of the skull and be bruised. The head may look fine, but complications could result from bleeding or swelling inside the skull.

In any serious head trauma, always assume the spinal cord is also injured.

Some head injuries result in prolonged or nonreversible brain damage. This can occur as a result of bleeding inside the brain or forces that damage the brain directly. More serious head injuries may cause the following symptoms:

• Changes in, or unequal size of pupils
• Chronic or severe headaches
• Coma
• Fluid draining from nose, mouth, or ears (may be clear or bloody)
• Fracture in the skull or face, bruising of the face, swelling at the site of the injury, or scalp wound
• Irritability (especially in children)
• Loss of consciousness, confusion, or drowsiness
• Loss of or change in sensation, hearing, vision, taste, or smell
• Low breathing rate or drop in blood pressure
• Memory loss
• Mood, personality, or behavioral changes
• Paralysis
• Restlessness, clumsiness, or lack of coordination
• Seizures
• Speech and language problems
• Slurred speech or blurred vision
• Stiff neck or vomiting
• Symptoms improve, and then suddenly get worse (change in consciousness)

Images

Intracerebellar hemorrhage - CT scan

Concussion

Bicycle helmet - proper usage

Indications of head injury

Head injury

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Head injury Overview

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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)