Head Injuries

Injuries involving some type of blow to the head are among the most common in our society espcially after a car accident or fall. Some 100,000 people in the UK suffer traumatic head injuries each year, and between 7000 and 9000 are left permanently disabled. Head injuries can range from relatively minor damage to the scalp and face such as cuts and bruising to more serious consequences involving damage to the brain.

Loss of consciousness, even for a very brief period, is one of the clearest indications that the brain may have been affected by a blow to the head after an accident. The person may be uncertain about the time, date, and location and/or a period of memory loss for the events surrounding the head injury are also indicators of trauma to the brain. Any of these symptoms following a blow to the head should be taken seriously. You should always contact your doctor immediately if a child has suffered any type of head injury.

With the most severe symptoms, loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes, the person should receive immediate medical attention. With less severe symptoms the person should be watched for a period of several hours after the head trauma. The person's state of consciousness, orientation to time and place and immediate memory function (e.g., remembering a series of four numbers) should be evaluated periodically during this time. Any evidence of deterioration may be a sign of the delayed effects of brain injury due to swelling or internal bleeding and require that the person receive medical attention as soon as possible. Some appreciation for how and why these symptoms arise will provide insight into why even a seemingly mild blow to the head may have very serious and potentially life-threatening consequences.