Head injuries are usually the result of trauma. Trauma to the head may occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents, falls, recreational activities and violence (assault). There are two types of head injury: penetrating injuries and blunt trauma injuries. Penetrating injuries occur as a result of a foreign object penetrating the skull, such as a bullet or a sharp object. These injuries are often fatal. Surgery is often needed to remove the penetrating object and any debris left behind, such as pieces of bone from a shattered skull. Blunt head injuries result from a direct blow to the head or a rapid deceleration process which causes the brain to ricochet within the skull. Blunt head injuries can occur from a fall, a motor vehicle accident or from being hit on the head with a blunt object.
What are the Symptoms of Brain Injury?
Injury may cause only mild symptoms initially, or may be immediately life threatening, depending on the severity and mechanism of the brain injury. Common symptoms of head injury include:
• Loss of consciousness (may be brief or prolonged)
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Memory loss (transient or long term)
• Behavioral changes
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• Seizures
• Balance problems
Which symptoms are present is dependent upon the severity of the injury and which part of the brain is injured.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Anytime an injury is suspected, the victim should be transported to the nearest emergency room without delay. Complaints of vision problems, headache, and nausea and vomiting are frequent and common signs of brain injury and should prompt physician evaluation. Changes in behavior, such as irritability, forgetfulness and excessive sleepiness are also red flags. It is always wise to err on the side of caution if you suspect a brain injury. Ignoring a potential head injury could have dire consequences.
How are Brain Injuries Treated?
People who have suffered mild head injuries can often be observed at home, providing there is someone responsible for their care and they can return to the hospital easily and quickly should their condition deteriorate.
People who experience more severe head injuries will be hospitalized and observed. They may require surgery if they have suffered a penetrating brain injury. Victims will be monitored for signs of increasing intracranial pressure, which can be life threatening and may require surgery to relieve pressure on the brain.
Brain injury support for veterans tests may be required to determine the extent of the brain injury. Tests may include a CT of the brain, MRI of the brain and other tests as deemed necessary. People with severe brain injuries may require monitoring in an ICU.
What is the Prognosis for Head Injury?
The prognosis of a head injury will be dependent on many factors, such as the type and mechanism of injury, what part of the brain is affected by the head injury, the age and prior health condition of the victim, and other factors. Even mild head injuries can have lasting effects; therefore medical attention should be sought any time a head injury is suspected.
Acquired Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury can heal by the proper care of people. This relates to something which has specifically occurred and affected the brain as a result of an event after birth and does not relate to damage to the brain which has developed from neurodegenerative disorders, but rather event based occurrences which could be accidents, head injury, an assault or even as a by-product of neurosurgery. They can also occur as a result of changes to the brain as a direct result of the contraction of medical conditions, such as brain tumours.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
This type of injury occurs as an effect of an intervention via an external or internal source which could relate to brain tumours, alcohol or other substance abuse, infection (viral or non-viral), poisoning or indeed as the product of other contracted diseases or medical conditions. This type of injury to the brain does not generally relate to the types of injuries which are sustained as a result of an accident or injury, but rather lean more towards those which occur as a result of a contracted medical condition or disease.
The Effects Of Acquired Brain Injuries
The effects of any type of brain injury are far reaching, affecting both the physical and mental condition of those affected. Each individual will be affected differently, but needless to say that the results will be far reaching and influential to all parts of a person's life and wellbeing.
