If you have or someone you know has experienced a major head injury, it’s important to understand as much as possible about the extent of the injury. Every day people visit urgent medical centers in Suffolk County, NY, because of head injuries. Some of these head injuries are minor such as a bruise or a small bump. However, there are also patients who walk through those doors with major head injuries that are considered a traumatic brain injury. Continue reading to learn more about what causes major head injuries, the treatment options, and the prognosis.
What Causes Major Head Injuries
There are numerous ways a person can get hurt and end up with a traumatic brain injury. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Physical assaults
- Car accidents
- Accidental falls
- Brain surgery with complications.
- Sports-related accidents
Most of the time, the skull protects the brain from harm during impact. However, when this doesn’t happen, that’s when a patient is diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Medical health centers in Suffolk County, NY, see all types of head injuries and know the importance of quick intervention when the brain has been directly affected by such an injury.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Here's a list of the types of TBI:
- Hematoma: This happens when blood clots outside of the blood vessels cause pressure in the skull.
- Hemorrhage: A hemorrhage occurs when there is uncontrolled bleeding inside the brain tissue or in the space around the brain.
- Concussion: Impact to the skull that’s serious enough to cause injury to the brain.
- Edema: This is swelling of the brain or the surrounding tissues.
- Skull fracture: The skull is tough to break because it doesn’t contain bone marrow. However, if the skull breaks during impact, this can lead to brain injuries.
- Diffuse axonal injury: This is a sheer injury that damages brain cells but doesn’t cause bleeding.
When to Seek Treatment
Do you know when to seek treatment? Getting treatment quickly for a brain injury is important. Any delay could result in serious impairment. That’s why it’s critical that people are aware of the signs of possible brain injury if they’ve been involved in an accident. If you or a loved one experience any of the following symptoms seek medical attention right away:
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe headache
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Nausea or vomiting
Call an ambulance to be transported to your emergency medical center in Suffolk County, NY, right away. Doctors need to run tests to determine the extent of the damage to come up with the best treatment plan. When brain injuries are treated quickly, there are more options available, and the prognosis for a full recovery is much higher.
If you need immediate medical treatment, visit one of the Peconic Bay Medical Center locations right away to be seen by top doctors and medical staff.