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Head Injury Center - Blue Springs, MO

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Blue Springs, Missouri

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Head Injury

Head injury introduction

Head injuries are one of the most common causes of death and disability in the United States. Every year, almost a quarter million people are hospitalized because of traumatic injuries to the brain, and 50,000 people die. As well, 80-90,000 people sustain long-term or lifelong disabilities because of a brain injury each year. Children are not excluded, with more than 2,500 deaths and almost a half million emergency department visits per year for head injuries.

Blows to the head most often cause brain injury, it is important to remember that the face and jaw are located in the front of the head. Brain injury may also be associated with injuries to these structures. It is also important to note that a head injury does not always mean that there is also a brain injury.

The brain is a rather soft, pliable material almost jelly-like in feel, and is surrounded by a thin layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The brain is surrounded by thin layers of tissue called the meninges; 1) the pia mater, 2) the arachnoid mater, and 3) the dura mater. The CSF is present in the space beneath the arachnoid layer called the subarachnoid space.

The dura mater is very thick and has septae, or partitions, that help support the brain in the skull. The septae attach to the inner lining of the bones of the skull. The dura mater also helps support the large veins that return blood from the brain to the heart.

The spaces between the meninges are usually very small but they can fill with blood when trauma occurs, and this build-up of blood can potentially press into the brain tissue and cause damage.

The skull protects the brain from trauma but it does not absorb any of the impact from a blow. Direct blows may cause fractures of the skull; there can be a contusion or bruising and bleeding to the brain tissue directly beneath the injury site. However, the brain can bounce aro...

Recommended Reading Related to Head Injury

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) »

What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn't clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cell fragments called platelets (PLATE-lets).

Platelets also are called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites). They're made in your bone marrow along with other kinds of blood cells. Platelets stick together (clot) to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding.

"Idiopathic" (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) means that the cause of the condition isn't known. "Thrombocytopenic" (throm-bo-cy-toe-PEE-nick) means there's a lower than normal number of platelets in the blood. "Purpura" (PURR-purr-ah) refers to purple bruises caused by bleeding under the skin.

Overview of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

People who have ITP often have purple bruises that appear on the skin or on the mucous membranes (for example, in the mouth)....

Emergency Contact for Blue Springs

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Blue Springs Hospitals *

St Mary's Medical Center
201 NW R D Mize Rd
Blue Springs, MO 64014
(816)228-5900

Centerpoint Medical Center
19600 E 39th St
Independence, MO 64057
(816)698-7000

Truman Medical Center Lakewood
7900 Lees Summit Rd
Kansas City, MO 64139
(816)404-7000

Saint Luke's East
100 NE Saint Luke's Blvd
Lees Summit, MO 64086
(816)347-5000

Lee's Summit Medical Center
2100 SE Blue Pkwy
Lees Summit, MO 64063
(816)282-5000

Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital
5121 Raytown Rd
Kansas City, MO 64133
(816)382-6300

Crittenton Children's Center
10918 Elm Ave
Kansas City, MO 64134
(816)765-6600

Kansas City VA Medical Center
4801 E Linwood Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64128
(816)861-4700

Research Medical Center
2316 E Meyer Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64132
(816)276-4000

Research Psychiatric Center
2323 E 63rd St
Kansas City, MO 64130
(816)444-8161

Select Specialty Hospital Western Missouri
2316 E Meyer Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64132
(816)276-3300

Kindred Hospital Kansas City
8701 Troost Ave
Kansas City, MO 64131
(816)995-2000

Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
2301 Holmes St
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816)404-1000

Western Missouri Mental Health Center
1000 E 24th St
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816)512-7000

Children's Mercy Hospital & Clinics
2401 Gillham Rd
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816)234-3000

Saint Luke's Hospital
4401 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816)932-2000

North Kansas City Hospital
2800 Clay Edwards Dr
North Kansas City, MO 64116
(816)691-2000

Rainbow Mental Health Facility
2205 W 36th Ave
Kansas City, KS 66103
(913)789-5800

University of Kansas Hospital & Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd
Kansas City, KS 66160
(913)588-5000

St Joseph Medical Center
1000 Carondelet Dr
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816)942-4400

Liberty Hospital
2525 Glenn Hendren Dr
Liberty, MO 64068
(816)781-7200

Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
3651 College Blvd
Leawood, KS 66211
(913)338-4100

Doctor's Hospital
4901 College Blvd
Leawood, KS 66211
(913)529-1801

Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital
10720 Nall Ave
Leawood, KS 66211
(913)754-5000

Mid-America Rehabilitation Hospital
5701 W 110th St
Overland Park, KS 66211
(913)491-2400

Children's Mercy South
5808 W 110th St
Overland Park, KS 66211
(913)696-8000

Menorah Medical Center
5721 W 119th St
Overland Park, KS 66209
(913)498-6000

Research Belton Hospital
17065 S Highway 71
Belton, MO 64012
(816)348-1200

Specialty Hospital of Mid America
6509 W 103rd St
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913)649-3701

Shawnee Mission Medical Center
9100 W 74th St
Shawnee Mission, KS 66204
(913)676-2000

Saint Luke's South Hospital
12300 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66213
(913)317-7000

Children's Mercy Northland
501 NW Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO 64155
(816)413-2500

Excelsior Springs Medical Center
1700 Rainbow Blvd
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
(816)630-6081

Ray County Memorial Hospital
904 Wollard Blvd
Richmond, MO 64085
(816)470-5432

Lafayette Regional Health Center
1500 State St
Lexington, MO 64067
(660)259-2203

Overland Park Regional Medical Center
10500 Quivira Rd
Overland Park, KS 66215
(913)541-5000

Select Specialty Hospital Kansas City
10500 Quivira Rd
Overland Park, KS 66215
(913)541-5886

Cass Regional Medical Center
1800 E Mechanic St
Harrisonville, MO 64701
(816)380-3474

Saint Luke's Northland Hospital Barry Road Campus
5830 NW Barry Rd
Kansas City, MO 64154
(816)891-6000

Providence Medical Center
8929 Parallel Pkwy
Kansas City, KS 66112
(913)596-4000

Saint Luke's Northland Hospital Smithville Campus
601 S Highway 169
Smithville, MO 64089
(816)532-3700

Olathe Medical Center
20333 W 151st St
Olathe, KS 66061
(913)791-4200

Western Missouri Medical Center
403 Burkarth Rd
Warrensburg, MO 64093
(660)747-2500

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