Patient/caregiver was instructed upon pathophysiology of head injury as follows:
- Head injuries can be broadly classified into closed and open. Closed head injuries are more common in general.
- A closed head injury is any injury in which the skull remains intact, such as, a bruise or a small bump. An open head injury is a severe injury in which the skull is broken, and the injury affects the brain, such as, a gunshot wound.
- Severity and consequences of head injuries in senior citizens can vary from mild to severe and can also be fatal at times. Depending upon the type of injury and source of damage, most common head injuries can vary widely, such as, bruise, concussion, hemorrhage, hematoma formation, and traumatic brain injury.
- When the injury is mild, the individual can suffer a mild skin bruise with some minimal swelling of the head at the site of impact that can resolve in due course of time.
- When the injury is moderate to severe, the individual can suffer from concussion. In concussion, the injury can be severe enough to cause brain damage, due to the brain receiving a sudden jolt, hitting against hard surfaces, such as, head hitting against the floor during falls.
- Brain damage during head injuries can result in bruising of brain. Depending on the intensity of the incident, individuals can also suffer skull fracture, rupture of blood vessels on the surface of brain & deep inside the brain, and severe bleeding. Rupture of blood vessels on the brain surface can result in accumulation of pool of blood on the brain, forming a hematoma.
- Rupture of blood vessels inside the brain can result in bleeding into the protective coverings of brain (meninges). Meningeal bleeding can result in injuries such as, epidural hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Bleeding into the brain tissue proper can result in intracerebral hemorrhage.
- Bleeding and hematomas, both on the surface of brain and inside the brain tissue can clot, build immense pressure inside the head, and compress the brain, causing brain damage. Severe bleeding can also compromise blood supply to vital areas of brain and contribute to development of stroke.
