Many of us do suffer an injury on the head, be it sometime during when we were kids or as adults. However, the intensity of head injuries does differ from situation to situation. Hence, before jumping onto the different types of head injuries, lead us first to understand what a head injury means.
What is a head injury?
Every degree of damage to the brain, skull, or scalp is referred to as a head injury. A traumatic brain injury can vary in severity from a minor bump or bruise to a severe or life-threatening traumatic brain injury. Also, relatively minor head injuries can have severe long-term consequences, so any injury should be taken seriously. One should visit the doctor at the earliest without delay, in case if there are any head injuries. Taking such things lightly, can cause a lot of damage in the future, and give away to other injuries and complications.
What Different Types of Head Injuries Are There?
A closed head injury or an open head injury are the two types of head injuries. An open head injury breaks the skull but does not penetrate the brain. A closed head injury breaks the skull but does not enter the brain.
Traumatic Brain Injury: A concussion is a form of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by a head bump, impact, or jolt. The brain bounces or twists in the head during a concussion, which can source chemical changes or damage to brain cells.
Skull Fracture: A skull fracture occurs when the cranial bone is fractured or broken due to an accident or trauma. A brain injury may occur due to the fracture as a split in the skull, leaving the brain vulnerable to damage.
Edema: An injury to the brain that causes edema or swelling. The swelling can’t be accommodated by stretching the skull. This can cause an accumulation of pressure fluid in the brain, causing it to strain against the skull.
Brain contusions: Brain contusions are bruises on the brain’s surface that cause damage to the tissue and blood vessels of the brain.
Hematoma: A hematoma is a series of blood clotting outside of blood vessels. Clotting also causes pressure inside the skull.
Brain Hemorrhage: A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke that results in uncontrolled bleeding in or around the brain—an artery in the brain bursts, triggering bleeding in the adjoining tissue.
Diffuse axonal injury: A prolix axonal injury is a type of brain injury that does not result in bleeding but may result in brain inflammation or cell damage. The most serious cause of injury is violently shaken, which is common in car accidents.
Conclusion: While it is not always possible to avoid head injury, several precautions can be taken to reduce the risk. Wearing a seatbelt in a car, wearing a helmet while cycling or riding a motorcycle, and taking safety precautions while participating in contact sports are just a few examples.
Since a head injury may have long-term effects, it’s important to take care whenever possible.