They’ll then cover it with a bandage.Įven if your injury seems minor, you should still watch your condition to make sure it doesn’t get worse. If you have an open cut, your doctor may use sutures or staples to close it. You shouldn’t take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin (Bayer). In these cases, you may be told to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the pain. With minor head injuries, there are often no symptoms other than pain at the site of the injury. The treatment for head injuries depends on both the type and the severity of the injury. An MRI scan will usually only be ordered once you’re in stable condition. This can offer a more detailed view of the brain. CT scans are fast and accurate, so they’re typically the first type of imaging you’ll receive. A CT scan will help your doctor look for fractures, evidence of bleeding and clotting, brain swelling, and any other structural damage. Imaging tests are commonly used to diagnose head injuries. During this exam, your doctor will evaluate your nerve function by assessing your muscle control and strength, eye movement, and sensation, among other things. You’re also likely to get a neurological examination. Your doctor will also examine you to look for signs of trauma, including bruising and swelling. It will be important for your doctor to determine if you lost consciousness and for how long if you did. If it’s possible, you should bring someone with you who witnessed the accident. Often, if you’ve had a head injury, you won’t remember the details of the accident. Your doctor will need to know the circumstances of your injury. A high GCS score indicates a less severe injury. The GCS is a 15-point test that assesses your mental status. One of the first ways your doctor will assess your head injury is with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
The damage to the brain cells results in them not being able to function. Diffuse axonal injuryĪ diffuse axonal injury (sheer injury) is an injury to the brain that doesn’t cause bleeding but does damage the brain cells.
An injury to the brain can also accompany the fracture, but that’s not always the case. There are many types of skull fractures, but only one major cause: an impact or a blow to the head that’s strong enough to break the bone. A skull fracture is any break in the cranial bones. The skull hardens and fuses through development to protect the brain. The skull consists of 22 bones that come together via cranial sutures. This leads to pressure buildup in your brain, causing your brain to press against your skull. Your skull can’t stretch to accommodate the swelling. Many injuries cause swelling of the surrounding tissues, but it’s more serious when it occurs in your brain. EdemaĪny brain injury can lead to edema, or swelling. However, repeated concussions can eventually lead to permanent damage.
Generally speaking, the loss of function associated with a concussion is temporary.
It’s thought to be the result of the brain hitting against the hard walls of your skull or the forces of sudden acceleration and deceleration. ConcussionĪ concussion occurs when the impact on the head is severe enough to cause brain injury. The severity of intracerebral hemorrhages depends on how much bleeding there is, but over time any amount of blood can cause pressure buildup. Subarachnoid hemorrhages often cause headaches and vomiting. There can be bleeding in the space around your brain, called subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding within your brain tissue, called intracerebral hemorrhage. HemorrhageĪ hemorrhage is uncontrolled bleeding. This can cause you to lose consciousness or result in permanent brain damage. The clotting can lead to pressure building up inside your skull. It can be very serious if a hematoma occurs in the brain. What are the major types of head injuries? HematomaĪ hematoma is a collection, or clotting, of blood outside the blood vessels.