A head injury can be anything from a mild to severe bump, bruise, or scratch on the head to a more severe concussion, skull fracture, deep cut or wound on the head. These injuries are one of the main reasons for disability and death in adults. 

What Are the Symptoms of Head Injury? 

Brain injuries carry a wide variety of symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms may show up immediately and sometimes it may take days or weeks to appear. A mild traumatic head injury may show: 

• Headache. 

• Dizziness. 

• Nausea and vomiting. 

• Blurred vision. 

• Ringing in ears. 

• Loss of consciousness for a few minutes. 

• Mood swings. 

• Sleep disturbances. 

On the other hand, a severe head injury may show: 

• Persistent headache. 

• Convulsions or seizures. 

• Recurring nausea and vomiting. 

• Loss of coordination. 

• Slurred speech. 

• Behaviour change. 

• Coma. 

How Are Head Injuries Treated? 

Depending on the severity of your head injury, the treatment is categorized into: 

• Category 1 or Category 2: 

This involves providing ventilation, oxygenation, controlling seizures (if present), and a neurosurgery to decrease the intracranial pressure. 

• Category 2 or Category 3: 

This involves providing appropriate analgesia and treating the patient based on results from the CT scan. 

A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to your spinal cord. These injuries range from minor to manageable and severe.  

What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury? 

Depending on the location of the injury, the symptoms may vary. The common symptoms, however, include: 

• Pain. 

• Numbness. 

• Tingling sensation in legs. 

• Paralysis. 

• Low body temperature. 

• Urinary incontinence. 

• Low blood pressure. 

• Slow heart rate. 

How Are Spinal Cord Injuries Managed? 

Prompt medical attention is required for spinal cord injuries as it can lead to severe consequences. The treatment usually involves: 

• Surgery 

The main goal of spinal surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and repair any damage to the surrounding injuries. 

• Medication 

Certain medications including steroids may reduce swelling and inflammation around your spinal cord. 

• Traction 

This can help in holding you in place and reduce your movement. 

A skull fracture refers to a break in the bone structure surrounding your brain. It is also a type of head injury due to a severe blow to the head. 

What Are the Symptoms of a Skull Fracture? 

A skull fracture may show the following symptoms: 

• Change in skin colour at the injury site. 

• Swelling or a lump on your head. 

• Bruising around the injury or raccoon eyes. 

• Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from your nose or ears. 

• Blood drains from your nose, ear, or a wound at the site of open fracture. 

How Are Skull Fractures Repaired? 

Mostly skull fractures do not require any significant medical treatment except for treatment related to head injury. In severe cases, you may require surgery wherein the neurosurgeon will move the bone back into place and stitch your skin with sutures.