Head Injury
There are 3 main types of head injuries:
Scalp injury: Most head injuries are a scalp injury. It is common for children to fall and hit their head at some point while growing up. This is especially common when a child is learning to walk. Falls often cause a bruise on the forehead. Sometimes black eyes appear 1 to 3 days later because the bruising spreads downward by gravity. Big lumps can occur with minor injuries because there is a large blood supply to the scalp. For the same reason small cuts on the head may bleed a lot.
Skull fracture: Head injuries that you can't see on the outside of the head are a skull fracture or a concussion. Only 1% to 2% of children with head injuries will get a skull fracture. Usually there are no other symptoms except for a headache at the site where the head was hit.
Concussion: A concussion is a mild injury to the brain that changes how the brain normally works. It is usually caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head. Many children bump or hit their heads without causing a concussion. Signs of a concussion can include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, forgetting what happened around the time of the injury, acting dazed, or being knocked out. A person does NOT need to be knocked out or lose consciousness to have had a concussion.
If your child has a concussion, there may be some ongoing symptoms such as mild headaches, dizziness, thinking difficulties, or behavioral/emotional changes for several days to weeks. All children with a concussion will need to have follow-up with their health care provider.
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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patient Information and Instructions
| Service Name | Appointment |
|---|---|
| Adult Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 734-936-7175 |
| Traumatic Brain Injury - Adult | 734-936-7175 |
