Head Injury Causes

All types of head injuries can be caused by trauma. In adults in the United States such injuries commonly result from motor vehicle accidents, assaults, and falls. In children falls are the most common cause followed by recreational activities such as biking, skating, or skateboarding. A small but significant number of head injuries in children are from violence and abuse.

Penetrating trauma: Missiles such as bullets or sharp instruments (such as knives, screwdrivers, or ice picks) may penetrate the skull. The result is called a penetrating head injury. Penetrating injuries often require surgery to remove debris from the brain tissue. The initial injury itself may cause immediate death, especially if from a high-energy missile such as a bullet.

Blunt head trauma: These injuries may be from a direct blow (a club or large missile) or from a rapid deceleration force (a fall or striking the windshield in a car accident).

Head Injury Treatment

Emergency medical personnel should immediately treat any serious or potentially serious head injury.

Minor head injuries may be cared for at home.
 

• Bleeding under the scalp, but outside the skull, creates "goose eggs" or large bruises at the site of a head injury. They are common and will go away on their own with time. Using ice immediately after the trauma may help decrease their size

      o  Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Ice should be applied for 20-30 minutes at a   
          time and can be repeated about every 2-4 hours as needed.

      o  Use a light washcloth as a barrier and wrap the ice in it. You can also use a bag of
          frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth. This conforms nicely to the shape of the head.

      o  Make your own ice pack by adding 1/3 cup of 70% isopropyl alcohol (the green-
          colored kind is best to help identify it later) to 2/3 cup of water in a zip-lock-style   
          bag (double bag it to prevent leaking). The mixture turns into "slush." Freeze this
          homemade ice pack for use when needed. Caution: If you have small children in
          your home, watch them carefully when using the ice pack. Drinking the mixture can
          be poisonous.

      o  Commercially available ice packs use chemicals to create cold. They are designed
          to be kept in a first-aid kit and need not be kept frozen. These can be applied  be
          directly to the skin, although a barrier can also be used if bleeding is present. They 
          must disposed of after a single use but can be handy in case of emergencies.
 

• When a minor head injury results from a fall onto carpet or other soft surface and the height of the fall is less than the height of the person who fell and there is no loss of consciousness (in other words, the person was not "knocked out"), a doctor's visit is not usually needed. Apply ice to lessen swelling.
  
  
  
  
  
   

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Head Injury