Head Injury Symptoms, Types, and Severity

There are a variety of types of head injuries, and the outcomes vary greatly. One type of brain injury is an epidural hematoma. The acclaimed actress Natasha Richardson suffered this type of hematoma after falling while skiing in Canada in 2009. Unfortunately, despite all of the emergency care Ms. Richardson's received, she did not survive.

An epidural hematoma occurs when there is bleeding between the dura mater (a tough fibrous layer of tissue between the brain and skull) and the skull bone. These occur when arteries are torn as a result of a blow to the head, and injury in the temple area is a common cause. Although the pattern of a lucid interval followed by later neurological symptoms is characteristic, only a minority of patients display this pattern of symptoms. Reported death rates from epidural hematoma vary widely, ranging from 5% to over 40%, depending upon the patient population under study.

To begin understand how something like this can happen, let's review the serious topic of minor head trauma and the potential that it has to become major head trauma.

Minor head injuries are defined as those where trauma causes a temporary loss of mental function, however, there is still a potential risk that something bad might happen. In fact, there are numerous guidelines to help physicians decide who might need a CT scan to look for brain bleeding or injury. The February 2009 edition of the Annals of Emergency Medicine contained an article that compared six different sets of guidelines. The conclusion was that each worked equally well in predicting who may or may not have bleeding in the brain. If the symptoms were not present, then it was safe to reassure the patient and family and let them go home. If symptoms were there, a CT scan was needed to look for brain damage.

Often, the injury that causes brain damage may not be dramatic or very traumatic, and the person may not initially lose consciousness. But for those few, where the head is hit in just the right place with just the right amount of force, the potential for swelling in the brain is real.

The New Orleans Criteria found seven symptoms that suggest when to obtain a CT scan. These same seven symptoms are reasonable as a guide to seek medical attention after a head injury:

1. Headache
2. Vomiting
3. Short term memory loss
4. Alcohol intoxication
5. Seizure
6. Physical evidence of trauma to the head or neck
7. Age over 60

Other guidelines would add dangerous mechanism of injury such as being hit by a car or falling down steps, and being on a blood thinner like warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix).

Head injuries are all too common, with almost 250,000 admissions to hospitals in the US each year and an estimated 50,000 deaths. Car wrecks and sports injuries account for up to 90% of these injuries. Kids aren't immune - head injuries cause over 2,500 deaths each year in children under the age of 14.

It is difficult for the patient to know when to seek care because of confusion or amnesia as to the events surrounding the injury along with a lack of objectivity. That objectivity is tough even for parents or family members, and the decision to seek medical care is sometimes difficult to make. A guiding principle might be, regardless of age, if the injured patient isn't acting like themselves, then medical care is needed. And all bets are off if alcohol or other drugs are involved; medical care should be sought immediately.

The best outcomes for head trauma occur when the injured patient arrives at the health care facility while they are still awake. Coma or unconsciousness is not a good sign. But even if everything is done right, the brain does not like being injured and may take a long time to return to normal function and potentially may not return to "normal." Accidents and injuries happen in life, and even with the most prompt and appropriate care, there is no guarantee for a perfect outcome.

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