What type of complications occur after a head injury?

Complications from serious head injuries can lead to significant emergencies and can even be life-threatening. That is why it is essential to identify the initial complications or symptoms of severe head injuries.

Head Injuries: How do they typically occur?

There are a few common ways that a majority of head accidents and injuries occur, including:

• Car accidents. Car accidents can easily cause head injuries, such as concussions, especially if you’re not wearing a seat belt.
• Hard falls. Falling is another common way that people get head injuries. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), falls account for 35% of non-fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
• Sports. Sports injuries is a common cause of head or brain injuries among children. Contact sports account for 21% of TBIs in adolescents.

Head Injuries: Complications and Symptoms

Sometimes the complications and symptoms of a severe head injury don't come right after the injury, and that's why it's essential to be on the lookout for signs.

Some of the signs to look for include:

• A loss of consciousness.
• Seizure.
• Weakness in one side of the body.
• Slurred speech.
• Dilated pupils.
• Short term memory loss.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.

How can urgent care and ER help?

If the only symptoms you experience right after an accident are mild scrapes and bruises, your injury may be minor. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, it is essential to visit an urgent care or ER.

If you are unsure if you are experiencing any of the above issues, you should probably seek medical care to ensure there is no brain damage. Waiting to get medical care can lead to a brain injury worsening and causing permanent damage. Ensure that you or the person you know is being monitored for their condition for a few hours after the injury in case symptoms increase.

Head Injuries and Available Treatment Options

There are some standard practices for treating head injuries, and your treatment plan will be based on the severity of the damage and the injury itself. Some common treatment options are:

• Medication. This may include pain medicine for headaches, bumps and cuts; anti-seizure medication; or diuretics to help with swelling.
• Surgeries. Surgeries can be used for situations that require stitches or reduce any internal bleeding that might occur. The medical procedure can also be used to decrease pressure inside the skull.
• Rehabilitation. After a traumatic head injury, some people require rehab to regain some of the functions they lost.

The brain is an important organ in the body, and any injury or damage risks further complications. Head injuries are crucial to get checked out.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides medical services for head injuries and more. Working with patients in a transparent and cost-effective environment, the ER and urgent care hybrid model system prioritizes patients and delivers quality care from ER-trained physicians.

The emergency room is open 24/7, and the urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. No appointments are needed to visit ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care; walk-ins are welcome.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, OH 43537.