Head Injury

A head injury is any injury to the scalp, skull or brain. It can be a minor bump or a serious injury that affects how the brain works. Some injuries look small from outside but can cause bleeding or swelling inside the skull, so careful checking is important.

Symptoms

• Headache, which may get worse over time
• Feeling dizzy, confused or slow to respond
• Loss of consciousness, even for a short time
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
• Blurred or double vision
• Bleeding or clear watery fluid from the nose or ears
• Not remembering the events around the injury
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty in speaking
• Fits (seizures)

Causes

• Road accidents, especially two-wheeler accidents without a helmet
• Falls from stairs, rooftops or a height, and falls at home in elderly people
• Assault or a blow to the head
• Sports and play injuries in children
• Accidents at work or construction sites

Diagnosis

The doctor first checks breathing, blood pressure and level of consciousness, and then examines the eyes, speech, strength and movement of the arms and legs. A CT scan of the head is the main test after a head injury because it quickly shows fractures, bleeding and swelling. An MRI may be advised later in some patients. Elderly people, young children and people taking blood-thinning medicines may need closer checking even after an injury that looks minor.

Treatment

Treatment depends on how serious the injury is and what the examination and scans show. Most people with a mild head injury do not need surgery. They may be observed in hospital for some hours, given pain relievers and sent home with clear advice about warning signs. A responsible adult should stay with them for the first 24 hours.

Moderate or severe injuries need admission, sometimes in the ICU. Care may include oxygen or breathing support, close monitoring, medicines to reduce brain swelling, anti-seizure medicines and repeat scans.

Surgery is needed when there is a large blood clot pressing on the brain, a depressed (pushed-in) skull fracture, or rising pressure inside the skull. The operation may involve opening a part of the skull (craniotomy) to remove the clot. In some cases a piece of skull bone is removed for a period of time to give a badly swollen brain room (decompressive craniectomy), and it is replaced later. Recovery can take weeks to months, and some patients need physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

When to Seek Urgent Care

• Loss of consciousness, or becoming more sleepy and hard to wake
• Repeated vomiting
• Severe or worsening headache
• Confusion, unusual behaviour or slurred speech
• Fits (seizures)
• Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
• One pupil (black part of the eye) larger than the other
• Blood or clear fluid coming from the nose or ears
• Any head injury in an infant, an elderly person or someone taking blood-thinning medicines

If you notice any of these signs, go to the nearest emergency immediately. Do not wait for an OPD appointment.

If you or a family member has had a head injury and has ongoing headache, memory problems or other concerns, you can consult Dr. Prashant Sharma at Keshav Super Speciality Hospital, Meerut, for a careful evaluation.

Related Conditions

• Blood Clot in the Brain
• Brain Haemorrhage
• Brain Stroke
• Epilepsy (Fits / Seizures)
• All Neurological Treatment ›