High-Energy Head Injuries
High-energy injury
High-energy injuries to the head occur when the head hits
against another object with great force or pressure. This type of injury puts a
person at increased risk for a brain injury, even when there is no visible
external bleeding or other obvious sign of injury.
High-energy
injuries to the head can occur in a variety of ways, including:
- Falls in which the head strikes an object with
significant force. A fall from a height of
4 ft (1.2 m) may be enough to
cause an injury.
- Motor vehicle accidents
in which the head strikes and cracks or breaks the windshield or dents the
inside of the vehicle.
- Sports injuries, such as striking the head
after falling from a fast-moving bicycle.
- Direct blows to the head
with a hard object, such as a fist or a baseball bat swung with significant
force.
Injuries to the neck or face are more likely to occur with
a high-energy head injury.
Last Revised:
April 5, 2012
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
