A head injury is any traumatic injury sustained by the head. Such an injury is considered to be a serious head injury if it presents major risks to the continued well-being of the injured individual. These risks are normally related to brain damage which can occur in severe cases of head trauma and which can have severe deleterious effects if they are handled improperly. Symptoms such as unconsciousness, confusion, persistent drowsiness, and speech problems are all indicative of traumatic brain injury and should be assessed and treated by a professional. Large, visible wounds, excessive bleeding, and substantial swelling can also indicate relatively serious injury.
Traumatic brain injury is the most significant concern associated with major head injury. A variety of different neurological symptoms such as dizziness, seizure, difficulty seeing or hearing, and difficulties in understanding writing or speech can all indicate traumatic brain injury. Physical symptoms such as uneven pupil sizes or blood flowing from the ears or nose can also indicate traumatic brain injury and, therefore, potentially serious head injury. Longer-term symptoms of traumatic brain injury include difficulty sleeping or waking, loss of memory, vomiting, and loss of concentration. The severity of such injuries can vary substantially, and such symptoms should be assessed by a medical professional in order to determine if any treatment or therapy is necessary.
It is possible for a head injury to be serious without traumatic brain injury. Head wounds tend to bleed a great deal, and it may be difficult to control the bleeding from a serious head injury. Severe bleeding and swelling may also indicate damage to the skull. A traumatic head injury may, depending on the nature of the incident, be accompanied by back or neck injuries, which can also be quite debilitating and which should, therefore, be taken as seriously as head injuries.
After a serious head injury, the injured individual should not attempt to move himself, and other people should not attempt to move him unless it is absolutely necessary for avoiding further injury. Movement could aggravate any damage done to the head, neck, or back, and therefore increase the overall seriousness of the injury. It is important for medical professionals to assess the damage done and to determine if hospitalization or serious treatment of some form is necessary. In general, recovery from serious head injuries can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, months, or even longer in particularly severe cases.