Head injury can be classified as either closed or penetrating. In
closed head injury, the head sustains a blunt force by striking
against an object. In penetrating head injuries, a high velocity
object breaks through the skull and enters the brain. The signs and
symptoms of a head injury may occur immediately or develop slowly
over several hours.
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)
