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An Overview of Head Injury, Types of Head Injuries & How They Occur
Head Injury Overview
Head injuries that affect the brain are devastating, life-altering incidences that permanently affect victims, their family and friends. They can result in drastic personality changes that wreak havoc on personal and professional relationships. Head injuries can cause their victims to have mild-to-severe brain damage and be unable to take care of themselves, provide for their family or even accomplish simple everyday tasks.
Many permanent disabilities caused by this type of injury could have been prevented if medical professionals more thoroughly examined the possibility that a traumatic brain injury may present as a result of a simple head injury.
Types of Head Injuries
Head injuries include damage to the brain, scalp and skull. They fall into two major categories: closed and open head injuries. Closed head injuries are those in which the skull is not broken, although the brain may still be injured or damaged. Closed head injuries can be fatal if severe or result in an intra-cranial hemorrhage placing pressure on the brain. Open head injuries are those in which the skull is damaged, cracked or penetrated. Some form of injury to the brain is likely to be present with any open head injury, and penetration injuries will frequently result in brain damage or death.
Superficial wounds to the head bleed profusely, due to the high vascularity of the area, and may need stitches or result in an unfortunate infection, but injuries that bruise, damage or otherwise disturb the brain are far more dangerous.
Concussions and traumatic brain injuries often result from head injuries. Concussions are generally treated as less serious than traumatic brain injuries, but both can be life-threatening. Symptoms of a brain injury or concussion may include fatigue, a metallic taste in the mouth, memory loss or mental lapses, blurred or double vision, trouble concentrating, amnesia, agitation, slurred speech, loss of coordination, pupil dilation, difficulty waking, nausea or vomiting and numbness of the extremities.
How Head Injuries Occur
Head injuries are the result of any incident that causes trauma to the head. Accidents involving head trauma are most commonly caused by falls, followed by automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, injuries from sports like skiing, rugby or diving and other physical activities. Penetrating or impact injuries from violence or assault with weapons are generally extremely serious if not fatal.
Severe head injuries may be prevented or minimized through the conscientious use of helmets wherever reasonable like while riding a motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard or snowboard.
Head Injury Statistics
- African Americans have the highest death rate as a result of head injuries than any other group in the United States.
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries contribute to 1.7 million deaths, hospitalizations and emergency visits annually.
- Head injuries caused 30% of all injury related deaths in the United States, affecting 50,000 people annually.
- 5% of head injuries, even mild ones, lead to death, permanent disability or emotional problems.
- Head injuries are most commonly caused by falls.
- Adults over the age of 75 are the highest risk population for a fatal head injury.
- Teenagers ages 15 to 19 have the highest risk of head injuries resulting from sports or car accidents.
- Head injuries cost $60 billion or more a year in medical costs and lost earnings.
- Skiing accidents cause 5% to 10% of all head injuries.
- 100,000 people annually suffer a head injury which causes long-term disability.
Head Injury & Accident Articles
