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Closed Head Injuries

A closed head injury results from a hard blow to the head that does not break the skull. These types of injuries usually occur in falls, assaults and traffic accidents. Children who have been in serious bicycle accidents often suffer closed head injuries. These types of head injuries come with the risk of causing permanent brain damage. Complications from swelling of the brain and putting pressure on the skull can destroy delicate nerve cells and brain tissue. This type of injury needs immediate medical attention.

  1. Concussion

    • A concussion is a closed head injury that temporarily affects normal brain functions. Depending on the degree of the concussion, symptoms can be as mild as a slight headache to a severe impairment, such as losing consciousness. Other symptoms include dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, vomiting and slurred speech. Symptoms from a concussion may not surface until hours after the injury. A person with this type of injury can become confused and have difficulty balancing.

    Contusion

    • A brain contusion is another type of closed head injury. These are bruises of the brain resulting from head trauma. Hemorrhages can result from a brain contusion which could lead to permanent neurological damage if blood is absorbed into the cerebrospinal fluid. Symptoms of this closed head injury can include feeling numb and struggling with memory. Coordination may be off and there may be signs of cognitive impairment.

    Diffuse Axonal Injury

    • One of the most debilitating head injuries, a diffuse axonal injury is commonly caused by high-speed motor vehicle accidents. It is also the type of injury referred to in shaken baby syndrome. This type of closed head injury causes permanent damage to the nerves in the brain. It may cause swelling of the brain and lead to intracranial pressure. Diffuse axonal brain injury causes comma and vegetative states in 90 percent of the cases.

    Intracranial Hematoma

    • An intracranial hematoma is a closed head injury that occurs when the brain is forced up against the inside of the skull. This results in a pool of blood between the skull and the brain, creating tremendous pressure. This compresses the brain tissue. There are three types of intracranial hematomas, which are subdural, intraparenchymal subdural and epidural. The names refer to the areas that are affected by the blood collecting within the brain.

    Treatment Immediately

    • All closed head injuries require immediate medical attention. It is sometimes too late to save a person's life if treatment is not started immediately. Some closed injuries require a hole to be drilled in the skull to drain the blood and reduce pressure. The procedure can be a matter of life or death for someone with a closed head injury. There are also medications that can be administered to help control the swelling of the brain. Symptoms of closed head injuries might not appear until hours after the injury happened, and by then it could be too late for help. It is vital to seek medical attention as soon as a closed head injury occurs.

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