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Head Injury Center - Cape Coral, FL

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Cape Coral, Florida

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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 Cape Coral

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Cape Coral Hospitals *

Cape Coral Hospital
636 Del Prado Blvd
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239)574-2323

Lee Memorial Hospital
2776 Cleveland Ave
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239)332-1111

Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center
2727 Winkler Ave
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239)939-1147

Gulf Coast Hospital
13681 Doctors Way
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239)768-5000

HealthPark Medical Center
9981 S Health Park Dr
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239)433-7799

Lehigh Regional Medical Center
1500 Lee Blvd
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
(239)369-2101

Riverside Behavioral Center
733 E Olympia Ave
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941)637-2474

Charlotte Regional Medical Center
809 E Marion Ave
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941)639-3131

Fawcett Memorial Hospital
21298 Olean Blvd
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941)629-1181

Peace River Medical Center
2500 Harbor Blvd
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941)766-4122

NCH Healthcare System North Collier Hospital
11190 Health Park Blvd
Naples, FL 34110
(239)513-7000

Physicians Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge Rd
6101 Pine Ridge Rd
Naples, FL 34119
(239)304-4700

Englewood Community Hospital
700 Medical Blvd
Englewood, FL 34223
(941)475-6571

NCH Healthcare System Naples Community Hospital
350 7th St N
Naples, FL 34102
(239)436-5000

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