MedicineNet

Head Injury Center - Cedar Park, TX

WebMD Physician Directory

Cedar Park, Texas

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Round Rock
Throughout Round Rock, Texas
2012-07-04
Freedom 5000
Austin, Texas
2012-10-20
UMHB Cru 5k and Kid k
Belton, Texas
2012-10-28

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 Cedar Park

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Cedar Park Hospitals *

Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
1401 Medical Pkwy
Cedar Park, TX 78613
(512)528-7000

St David's Round Rock Medical Center
2400 Round Rock Ave
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512)341-1000

Seton Northwest Hospital
11113 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78759
(512)324-6000

Scott & White University Medical Campus
300 University Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512)509-0100

North Austin Medical Center
12221 Mo Pac Expy N
Austin, TX 78758
(512)901-1000

St David's Georgetown Hospital
2000 Scenic Dr
Georgetown, TX 78626
(512)943-3000

HEALTHSOUTH Surgical Hospital of Austin
6818 Austin Center Blvd
Austin, TX 78731
(512)346-1994

Cornerstone Hospital of Austin
4207 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78756
(512)706-1900

Seton Shoal Creek Hospital
3501 Mills Ave
Austin, TX 78731
(512)324-2000

Seton Medical Center Austin
1201 W 38th St
Austin, TX 78705
(512)324-1000

Austin State Hospital
4110 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78751
(512)452-0381

Heart Hospital of Austin
3801 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78756
(512)407-7000

Seton Medical Center Williamson
201 Seton Pkwy
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512)324-4000

St David's Medical Center
919 E 32nd St
Austin, TX 78705
(512)476-7111

Cornerstone Hospital of Austin at St David's
1005 E 32nd St
Austin, TX 78705
(512)544-5470

Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
4900 Mueller Blvd
Austin, TX 78723
(512)324-0000

St David's Rehabilitation Center
1005 E 32nd St
Austin, TX 78705
(512)544-5100

Austin Lakes Hospital
1025 E 32nd St
Austin, TX 78705
(512)544-5800

Austin Surgical Hospital
3003 Bee Caves Rd
Austin, TX 78746
(512)314-3800

University Medical Center Brackenridge
601 E 15th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512)324-7000

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Austin
1215 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
(512)474-5700

St David's South Austin Hospital
901 W Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(512)447-2211

The Oaks Treatment Center
1407 W Stassney Ln
Austin, TX 78745
(512)464-0400

Texas NeuroRehab Center
1106 W Dittmar Rd
Austin, TX 78745
(512)444-4835

Seton Southwest Healthcare Center
7900 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
(512)324-9000

Johns Community Hospital
305 Mallard Ln
Taylor, TX 76574
(512)352-7611

Seton Highland Lakes Hospital
3201 S Water St
Burnet, TX 78611
(512)715-3000

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.