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November 24, 2009
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Head Injury (cont.)

How can a head injury be prevented?

Prevention is the best way to treat a head injury.

  • In sporting activities, the use of a helmet may help minimize the risk of injury; similarly, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle helps minimize the risk of brain injury. Seatbelts can help prevent a head injury during a motor vehicle crash.

  • Since alcohol is a risk factor for falls and other injuries, it should be used responsibly.

  • Falls are a concern in the elderly. Homes can be made less fall-prone by installing assist devices on walls and in bathrooms. Loose floor coverings such as area rugs should be avoided, since walking from one floor covering to another increases the risk of falls. If needed, canes and walkers may be helpful as walking assistive devices.

What about a head injury in infants and young children?

Infants are often brought to health care practitioners because of a fall and the parent's concern that a head injury may exist. Most assessment and management guidelines discussed above do not apply to children younger than age two.

A minor head injury in an infant is described by the American Academy of Pediatrics as the following: "a history or physical signs of blunt trauma to the scalp, skull, or brain in an infant or child who is alert or awakens to voice or light touch."

Since an infant cannot verbalize specific complaints, the health care practitioner will look for symptoms that are associated with brain injury and bleeding in infants. These include the following:

  • Altered mental status; that is, the child is not acting or behaving normally.

  • Vomiting

  • Scalp abnormalities including lacerations and swelling that may be associated with skull fracture

  • Seizure

A CT scan may be indicated based upon the health care practitioner's assessment of the child. Plain skull X-rays may be ordered to asses for a fracture, as a screening tool to determine the need for a CT scan.



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Head Injury

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