Head Trauma and Treatment:

Head is the most important part of our body and the slightest trauma is to be observed carefully. It may cause severe symptoms and result. The commonest cause of the Head Trauma is Road Traffic Accident.

There are different mechanisms of Injury to Head:

· Closed Head Injury

· Impact of the brain on the skull may result in hemorrhage( collection of blood in Brain)

· Penetrating Injury

· Secondary Causes: may be due to the infections affecting brain, edema, due to poor blood supply to brain.

Clinical Presentation:

· Nausea, Vomiting, Loss of Consciousness are the most common complaints which should be acted promptly after a head trauma.

· Occurrence of Lucid Interval ( i.e. patient lose and gain consciousness which suggest hematoma)

· Amnesia ( related to the severity of the blow)

· Skull Fractures increase risk of hemorrhage and meningitis.

· On examination: We should look for the wounds and other injuries and also the neck region.

· Bleeding should be looked for- may be from eyes, from inside the ear or behind the ear, nose.

· Neurological examination should also be tested. Based mainly on the history of the level of consciousness. We must look for any abnormal signs in the patient accordingly as unable to move hand/legs; deviation of mouth; seizure; unable to speak; unable to remember the incident and serial examination of eyes/ears/nose done simultaneously.

Management:

· Initial step would be to assess the level of consciousness.

· Have to be careful regarding the neck trauma.

· Immediately at the hospital CT scan without contrast should be done as it identifies hemorrhage and contusion.

· Skull and facial X-rays

· Cervical Spine X-rays to rule out fracture or dislocation.

· Awake, alert patients are observed in the hospital for 24 hours with hourly assessment to detect deterioration.

· Surgical emergency evacuation done in cases of hemorrhage.