Head injury refers to trauma to head. This may not include injury to
the brain. Common causes of head injury are motor vehicle traffic
collisions, home and occupational accidents, falls, and assaults.
Bicycle accidents are also a common cause of head injury-related death
and disability, especially among children
Specific problems after head injury can include
Specific problems after head injury can include
- Skull fracture
- Lacerations to the scalp and resulting hemorrhageof the skin
- Traumatic subdural hematoma, a bleeding below the dura mater which may develop slowly
- Traumatic extradural, or epidural hematoma, bleeding between the dura mater and the skull
- Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Cerebral contusion, a bruise of the brain Concussion, a temporary loss of function due to trauma Dementia pugilistica, or “punch-drunk syndrome”, caused by repetitive head injuries , for example in boxing or other contact sports
- A severe injury may lead to a coma or death
- Shaken Baby Syndrome – a form of child abuse Some patients with head trauma stabilize and other patients deteriorate. A patient may present with or without neurologic deficit.
