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Summary
Chances are you've bumped your head before. Often, the injury is minor because your skull is hard and it protects your brain. But other head injuries can be more severe, such as a skull fracture, concussion, or traumatic brain injury.
Head injuries can be open or closed. A closed injury does not break through the skull. With an open, or penetrating, injury, an object pierces the skull and enters the brain. Closed injuries are not always less severe than open injuries.
Some common causes of head injuries are falls, motor vehicle accidents, violence, and sports injuries.
It is important to know the warning signs of a moderate or severe head injury. Get help immediately if the injured person has:
- A headache that gets worse or does not go away
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- An inability to wake up
- Dilated (enlarged) pupil in one or both eyes
- Slurred speech
- Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
- Loss of coordination
- Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
Doctors use a neurologic exam and imaging tests to make a diagnosis. Treatment depends on the type of injury and how severe it is.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Diagnosis and Tests
-
Brain MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in Spanish
-
Head CT
(American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America)
Also in Spanish
- Skull Radiography (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
- Ultrasound: Head (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Head Trauma, First Aid (VisualDX)
- Head Trauma: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Bump on the Head: When Is It a Serious Head Injury? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Craniocerebral Trauma
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Head Injuries
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Skull Fractures
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A YOLOv8 algorithm for safety helmet wearing detection in complex environment.
- Article: Examining and comparing the clinical characteristics of adults with persisting post-concussion...
- Article: Patterns of pediatric injuries: a prospective cross-sectional study at the Tamale...
- Head Injuries -- see more articles
Children
- Head Injuries (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Head Injury: What to Do if Your Child Loses Consciousness (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Head injury - first aid (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Skull fracture (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.