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Head Injury Center - Franklin, TN

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Franklin, Tennessee

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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

Fainting (Syncope) »

Introduction to fainting (syncope)

Fainting, "blacking out," or syncope is the temporary loss of consciousness followed by the return to full wakefulness. This loss of consciousness may be accompanied by loss of muscle tone that can result in falling or slumping over. To better understand why fainting can occur; it is helpful to explain why somebody is awake.

The brain has multiple parts, including two hemispheres, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The brain requires blood flow to provide oxygen and glucose (sugar) to its cells to sustain life. For the body to be awake, an area known as the reticular activating system located in the brain stem needs to be turned on, and at least one brain hemisphere needs to be functioning. For fainting or syncope to occur, either the reticular activating system needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose. If blood sugar levels...

Emergency Contact for Franklin

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Franklin Hospitals *

Williamson Medical Center
4321 S Carothers Pkwy
Franklin, TN 37067
(615)435-5000

Southern Hills Medical Center
391 Wallace Rd
Nashville, TN 37211
(615)781-4000

Saint Thomas Hospital
4220 Harding Rd
Nashville, TN 37205
(615)222-2111

Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital
2201 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37212
(615)320-7600

Psychiatric Hospital At Vanderbilt
1601 23rd Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212
(615)320-7770

Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
2200 Children's Way
Nashville, TN 37232
(615)936-1000

Nashville VA Medical Center
1310 24th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37212
(615)327-4751

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
1211 Medical Center Dr
Nashville, TN 37212
(615)322-5000

Centennial Medical Center
2300 Patterson St
Nashville, TN 37203
(615)342-1000

Parthenon Pavilion
2401 Parman Pl
Nashville, TN 37203
(615)342-1400

Baptist Hospital
2000 Church St
Nashville, TN 37236
(615)284-5555

Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital
1818 Albion St
Nashville, TN 37208
(615)341-4000

Bordeaux Long Term Care
1414 County Hospital Rd
Nashville, TN 37218
(615)862-7000

Kindred Hospital Nashville
1412 County Hospital Rd
Nashville, TN 37218
(615)687-2600

Nashville Rehabilitation Hospital
1034 W Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
(615)226-4330

StoneCrest Medical Center
200 StoneCrest Blvd
Smyrna, TN 37167
(615)768-2000

Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute
221 Stewart Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
(615)902-7400

Skyline Medical Center
3441 Dickerson Pike
Nashville, TN 37207
(615)769-2000

Summit Medical Center
5655 Frist Blvd
Hermitage, TN 37076
(615)316-3000

Skyline Madison Campus
500 Hospital Dr
Madison, TN 37115
(615)865-0300

Centennial Medical Center Ashland City
313 N Main St
Ashland City, TN 37015
(615)792-3030

Alvin C York Veterans Affairs Medical Center
3400 Lebanon Pike
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615)867-6000

Middle Tennessee Medical Center
400 N Highland Ave
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(615)396-4100

Maury Regional Hospital
1224 Trotwood Ave
Columbia, TN 38401
(931)381-1111

Hendersonville Medical Center
355 New Shackle Island Rd
Hendersonville, TN 37075
(615)264-4000

Marshall Medical Center
1080 N Ellington Pkwy
Lewisburg, TN 37091
(931)359-6241

Horizon Medical Center
111 Highway 70 E
Dickson, TN 37055
(615)446-0446

Heritage Medical Center
2835 Hwy 231 N
Shelbyville, TN 37160
(931)685-5433

Hickman Community Hospital
135 E Swan St
Centerville, TN 37033
(931)729-4271

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