Closed Head Injury

Closed head injuries are the result of forceful trauma to the brain. A closed head injury is caused by some type of blunt physical trauma which causes brain injury. It is the opposite of an open head injury because there is no fracture or displacement of the skull. Closed head injuries can range from mild to severe, and of course can continue to progress in level of seriousness depending on the type of injury and the situation. In a closed head injury, the brain hits the wall of the skull and rubs against its rough surface causing trauma to the brain. A good example of this type of injury is ‘shaken baby syndrome’.

Increased intracranial pressure can result due to the swelling of the brain; the tissue has no where to go and as it swells, neurological deficits become apparent. A common sign of increasing intracranial pressure is dilated pupil size due to pressure on the optic nerve caused by the expanding brain tissue. According to the Brain Injury Association at www.biausa.org, other symptoms that would indicate that brain damage has occurred with a closed head injury, would include decreasing level of consciousness, vision changes, slurred speech, balance problems, unequal pupils, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, lethargy, paralysis, respiratory problems, headache, irritability, change in personality, slow or absent speech, or numbness or tingling of the body.

Any situation that has resulted in a closed head injury should be evaluated by a health care provider, especially if the victim has demonstrated any of the above symptoms of brain injury. Signs and symptoms may be very subtle shortly after the injury has occurred, and the person may be feeling fine even though they suffered a closed head injury. There are medical treatments and interventions available to treat closed head injuries and prevent further brain damage from occurring, but some may not be effective if not administered in the proper time frame after the injury. Once signs and symptoms become noticeable,

Closed head injuries, even those that result in only mild damage to the brain, are quite serious and should be evaluated by medical personal immediately. There are tests that can be performed to see if any abnormalities are present, such as CT or MRI scans, and once the closed head injury is evaluated properly, treatment can be initiated to prevent further damage. Closed head injuries are more common than you think, but most of the time we only hear about the more tragic cases. This type of injury can also be prevented in many situations, and is not always the result of negligence or an accident.