Posted on Monday, December 7th, 2015 at 7:18 am
Any head injury can result in catastrophic medical conditions and disability that change your life forever. It is estimated that 2.4 million people will sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) this year. Over five million people live with a lifelong disability as a result of a TBI. When most people think about a traumatic brain injury, they assume that the skull has been fractured or an object has penetrated the brain; however, this is not always the case. A closed head injury can be just as dangerous as a penetrating head injury.
What is a Closed Head Injury?
A closed head injury is a form of TBI that occurs when you receive a hard blow to the head causing your brain to move within the skull striking the skull in one or more places. There may be no outward sign of head trauma; however, the soft tissues and cells of the brain can be severely damaged as your brain collides with your skull. A closed head injury can be just as devastating and dangerous as a penetrating head injury. The most common causes of closed head traumas are vehicle crashes and falls.
For example, in a car crash, your head strikes the steering wheel on impact or a piece of debris violently strikes your head. Your brain “slams” into the skull then “bounces” against the opposite side of your skull. This can result in shearing or tearing of the tissues resulting in a diffuse axonal injury. The nerves cells of your brain that transmit messages are damaged causing messages to be mixed up or not transmitted at all.
A penetrating head injury typically only effects the area of the brain at the point of impact; however, a closed head injury can result in several areas of the brain being injured. The more areas of the brain that are injured the more likely you will suffer from multiple complications. A closed head injury should be taken just as seriously as any other TBI.
Symptoms of a Closed Head Injury
A closed head injury can be difficult to diagnose due to the lack of an outward, obvious injury to the head. As with any TBI, if you experience any of the following symptoms, the symptoms persist, or the symptoms increase in severity, you need to seek immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of a closed head injury include but are not limited to:
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Headache
- Vomiting and/or nausea
- Loss of balance and/or dizziness
- Sleep problems and/or change in sleep habits
- Blurred vision, slurred speech, ringing in the ears, and others sensory problems
- Memory and/or concentration problems
- Mood swings and/or depression
- Seizures or convulsions
- Weakness or numbness in limbs, hands, or feet
If you experience a head injury and suffer from any abnormal or strange symptoms, it is best to have a physical exam to ensure you are not suffering from a more serious head injury.
Complications from Closed Head Injuries
As with any TBI, you can develop permanent disabilities and medical conditions from a closed head injury. According to the Mayo Clinic, complications that may develop from a head injury include:
- Altered Consciousness (i.e. coma, vegetative state, etc.)
- Seizures
- Infections
- Blood Vessel Damage
- Nerve Damage
- Fluid Buildup
- Intellectual Problems
- Behavioral and/or Emotional Changes
- Sensory Problems
- Degenerative Brain Diseases
Contact an Experienced Sacramento Brain Injury Attorney Immediately
Contact Tiemann Law Firm for your free consultation with one of our Sacramento personal injury attorneys.
You can contact us online, call our toll free number at (916) 999-9000, or chat with a representative on our website. Our friendly staff is here to help you as you recover from injuries caused by a negligent driver.
