Head Injury Research Paper

Traumatic Brain Injury or Head Injury
A head injury occurs as a result of trauma to the scalp, skull or brain. Head injuries are classified as closed, in which there is no cut or laceration to the skin, or penetrating, in which the skin and/or bone of the skull is broken. Traumatic brain injuries range from mild (called mild traumatic brain injury) to severe.
The symptoms of a head injury may occur immediately following trauma, or they may develop slowly over several hours or days. Specific types and symptoms of head injuries include:
• Concussion: Also called a mild traumatic brain injury. This includes injuries to the brain that are caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another trauma that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull. People who suffer from concussions may not always exhibit symptoms that are apparent to others. Symptoms of a concussion and minor head injuries include: o loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes o confusion; memory and/or concentration problems o dizziness o headache o memory loss (amnesia) of events before the injury or immediately after it o nausea and vomiting o altered level of consciousness, such as being drowsy or difficult to awaken
• Contusion: A bruise of the brain tissue often associated with swelling
A brain hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding into surrounding tissue, swelling and increased intracranial pressure. Blood may also collect and form a clot, called a hematoma. In an epidural hematoma, the clotting occurs between the inside of the skull and the outer, strong membranous covering of the brain (called the dura mater). Blood that collects beneath the dura mater is called a subdural hematoma. Symptoms of bleeding in the brain, which may gradually worsen or suddenly appear,