Acute head injuries involve trauma to the brain or skull. They are commonly due to accidents, falls, sports injuries or violence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports approximately 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year resulting in 52,000 deaths. While most traumatic brain injuries do not cause permanent damage, repetitive mild injuries and severe injuries may cause permanent, significant disabilities.
Concussion
A concussion is a temporary disturbance in brain function caused by mild trauma to the head. Falls, accidental or intentional blows to the head, and sports-related impacts are common causes of concussion. According to the CDC, concussion symptoms include thinking and concentration difficulties, headache, balance disturbances, sensitivity to bright light, irritability and sleep disturbances. The time to full recovery ranges from a few days to several weeks depending on the severity of the concussion. The CDC reports that approximately 75 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States are concussions or other mild brain injuries.
Brain Contusion
According to the UCLA Health System Neurosurgery Division, a brain contusion is an area of bleeding on the brain surface caused when the brain forcibly impacts the inside of the skull. This is similar to what happens when you hit your arm or leg and develop a bruise. Motor vehicle accidents, sports-related and violent injuries and falls are common causes of brain contusions. Shaken baby syndrome, in which an infant is violently shaken, can also cause brain contusions. Symptoms of brain contusion include severe headaches, irritability, agitation, confusion, memory loss, dizziness and vomiting. Brain contusions can cause varying degrees of swelling. Marked swelling increases the pressure on the brain. Surgical intervention to alleviate the pressure and reduce the risk of permanent brain injury may be necessary.
Skull Fracture
A skull fracture is a crack in the bone of the head due to a high-force injury. A brain injury is often present along with a skull fracture. A compound skull fracture is one accompanied by a break in the skin. When a broken piece of the skull is pressed inward, this is termed a depressed skull fracture. Compound and depressed skull fractures may require surgical repair, according to the UCLA Health System Neurosurgery Division.
Intracranial Bleeding
Acute head injuries can cause bleeding within the skull due to damage of the blood vessels in and around the brain. Types of intracranial bleeding that may occur with acute head injuries include subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, and intracerebral hematoma. The difference between these types of bleeding is primarily the location within the brain. Location also determines the signs and symptoms associated with the bleed. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports roughly 50 percent of patients with severe head injuries require surgery due to intracranial bleeding or brain contusions.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Statistics on Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: What are the Signs and Symptoms of Concussion?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Facts for Physicians on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
- American Academy of Neurology: Traumatic Brain Injury
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: What Are the Different Types of TBI?
