Head injury overview

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Head injury Microchapters

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Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating a Head Injury from other Conditions

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

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Treatment

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Head injury is a trauma to the head, that may or may not include injury to the brain(see also brain injury).

Causes

Common causes of head injury are traffic accidents, home and occupational accidents, falls, and assaults. Bicycle accidents are also a common cause of head injury-related death and disability, especially among children. [1]

Epidemiology and Demographics

The incidence (number of new cases) of head injury is 300 per 100,000 per year (0.3% of the population), with a mortality of 25 per 100,000 in North America and 9 per 100,000 in Britain. Head trauma is a common cause of childhood hospitalization.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Recovery in children with neurologic deficits will vary. Children with neurologic deficits who improve daily are more likely to recover. Children who are vegetative for months are less likely to improve. Most patients without deficits have full recovery. However, persons who sustain head trauma resulting in unconsciousness for an hour or more have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.[2]

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool for measuring degree of unconsciousness and is thus a useful tool for determining severity of injury. The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale is used in young children.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Unfortunately, once the brain has been damaged by trauma, there is no quick fix. However, there are some steps that can be taken to prevent secondary damage. If left untreated many patients with head injury will rapidly develop complications which may lead to death or permanent disability. Prompt medical treatment may prevent the worsening of symptoms and lead to a better outcome.

Surgery

Second line alternatives include decompressive craniectomy (Jagannathan et al. found a net 65% favorable outcomes rate in pediatric patients), barbiturate coma, hypertonic saline and hypothermia.

References

  1. National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC) (2004). "Bicycle injury fact sheet" (PDF). NSKC. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
  2. Small, Gary W (2002-06-22). "What we need to know about age related memory loss". British Medical Journal: 1502–1507. Retrieved 2006-11-05. Check date values in: |date= (help)

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