1. Open Head Injuries
Head injuries are dangerous and can be life-threatening. There are two types of head injuries: open (skin ripped open) or closed (no skin broken). Bleeding, skull fractures and injury severe enough to show the tissue of the brain are all "open head injuries." An open head injury can result in severe complications such as paralysis, seizures, coma and even death.
2. Options for Treatment of an Open Head Injury
The different types of treatment options for an open head injury vary greatly depending on the actual severity of the injury. Some types of external head injuries will require only minor first aid procedures but may cause profuse bleeding so the first key intervention is to stop any bleeding from occurring. Apply pressure to the area that is bleeding using a clean tissue, towel or cloth. Exert pressure for 10 to 15 minutes, after which you should take care to remove the cloth as this might damage any type of clot that will form causing the bleeding to continue. Having an MRI or head CT can help to diagnose the severity of the injury.
3. Infection Concerns
Because open head injuries are susceptible to infection, you may receive antibiotics to prevent or treat any infections that might occur. Meningitis or an inflammation of the brain meninges is a complication of an infection that happens in the brain. Administration of antibiotics and drugs to control brain swelling called corticosteroids prevent further complications.
4. Surgical Interventions
If the skull is fractured and has active bleeding into the brain, surgery is almost always necessary. Bone fragments of the skull are removed in order to gain access to the brain and replaced with man-made pieces of skull.
5. Recovery After Treatment
After undergoing surgery, most patients are monitored in an ICU setting for things such as swelling of the brain and pressure inside of the brain. To help relieve any pressure or swelling, a tube is inserted in the brain to drain any residual blood of fluids. Holes drilled into the skull will relieve any type of pressure that may build up. Many people will need to have long term care and rehabilitation to get back to their functioning prior to the injury.
