Head injury

A head injury is a trauma to the soft tissues of the skull, most often closed. Damages of this nature are divided into the following types: 

• Light bruises of the head; 
• Contusion with damage to the skin; 
• Damage to the jaw; 
• Craniocerebral injury.

If the head has been exposed to injury, as a rule, the skin and underlying cellulose tissue are damaged. Subcutaneous fat due to its structure does not make it possible to spread blood from torn vessels, capillaries, thus, the blood is localized in the area of the injury. There is a characteristic lump or hematoma (bruise). Bruises have the property of changing the shade depending on the time period.

The first stage is a purple-reddish shade due to the poured blood and the hemoglobin contained in it. Then the decomposition of hemoglobin, which is carried out by leukocytes, begins. Thus, the red blood cells gradually change the shade - from purple to bluish-green and yellow. For the green shade corresponds to the product of the decomposition of hemoglobin - biliverdin, a yellow shade introduces bilirubin. It is necessary to take into account the characteristic features of bruises, especially if they appear in the zone of orbits. The so-called symptom of eyeglasses can indicate a serious damage - a fracture of the base of the skull.

Clinically, the head injury, depending on the degree of severity, is divided into the following: 

• Subcutaneous (actually a bruise); 
• Podaponevrotichskaja a hematoma -, arisen under galea aponeurotica (an aponeurosis). Can cause a lot of blood loss due to a large zone of outflow (sometimes from the frontal bone to the occiput) and testify to the trauma of the cranial vault; 
• Kefalogematoma - podkostnichnaya, which is characterized by the presence of blood between the periosteum and bone. It is fraught with suppuration and may require local surgery.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

How is the head contusion manifested?

A head injury is often accompanied by damage to the skin. Abundant bleeding is explained by increased blood supply in these tissues. Wounds very quickly swell, with the dissection of the aponeurosis the wound seems very deep. Early in the area of the lips, as a rule, affect the internal cavity of the mouth, its mucous membrane. Such injuries are dangerous for damage to the facial nerves, parotid glands, nose bridge. The most complex wounds can develop into suppuration and abscesses.

The most common head injury is not life-threatening phenomenon, however, all risks of more serious TBI - craniocerebral injuries must be eliminated and attention should be paid to the following alarming symptoms: 

• Abundant bleeding - in any area of the head or face; 
• Blood from the nose, ears; 
• Headache, which is worse; 
• Loss or impaired consciousness for more than 30 seconds; 
• Symptom points, bruises behind the ears; 
• Disturbed balance, dizziness; 
• Difficulty breathing, stopping; 
• Violation of coordination, inability to move limbs; 
• Vomiting; 
• Asymmetry of eyes, different width of pupils, 
• Violation of speech; 
• Loss or decrease in pulse, pressure; 
• Convulsive syndrome; 
• Lack of sensitivity to odors.

How to recognize a head injury?

Even a slight bruise of the head can be a serious trauma, therefore, where the localization and how the trauma changes, sometimes a primary diagnosis depends. The dynamics of increased and increasing edema, dilated bruises can indicate complex closed injuries of the skull. Any contusion of the head in an adult or child requires a thorough examination and the correct diagnosis, so as not to miss the hidden fractures and serious internal hemorrhages to the brain. For the specification and specification of the localization of internal damage, an X-ray and CT scan (computed tomography) is required, neurological examination is mandatory.

A head injury can be localized in the face area. Such lesions are characterized by swelling and fast impregnation with blood of the cellulose (imbibition). Hematomas are rare, mostly they are exposed to the forehead, upper eyelids and superciliary arches. It is necessary to carefully and delicately palpate the area of the injury, in order to exclude damage to the nasal adnexal sinuses. When palpating subcutaneous tissue, air is felt, which can indicate a trauma of an important and fragile bone - a lattice (bone separating the nasal cavity from the cranial cavity). Also, you should carefully study the lesions in the orbit region to exclude a fracture in the anterior fossa of the skull base. A symptom of such a serious trauma is characteristic bruises in the form of spectacles, in addition to the fracture of the base of the skull may indicate the accumulation of liquor fluid in the nasopharynx and the lack of sensitivity to odors (anosomy). Fracture of the cheekbone may be accompanied by extensive swelling in the area of the injury, it must also be diagnosed with the help of an X-ray, otherwise the deformity of the face as a whole will manifest after resorption of the swelling.

What if you got a head injury?

If one of these symptoms is noticeable, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help. Before the arrival of a doctor, the patient should be placed preferably in a darkened place in a horizontal position, gently raise the head gently, without turning or turning. If there is bleeding, it is necessary to stop it without clamping the wound, apply a sterile or simply clean cloth, bandage. It is necessary to pay attention to the language of the victim and do everything possible so that he does not fall.

The head injury is better not to be tolerated, since such traumas with apparent routine and curability can affect after many years increased intracranial pressure, visual impairment and other equally serious problems. And if the trauma after a few days causes anxiety, do not take risks - it's better to call a doctor in time to get qualified help.