Head injury, severe

Complications of a severe head injury

Severe head injuries can cause serious complications, mainly because the brain can be damaged,sometimes permanently.

A particularly severe head injury can be fatal, so a person with this type of injury will be closely monitored in hospital, so that any complications that arise can be dealt with promptly and effectively.

Infection

If your skull is fractured during a head injury, you may have a greaterrisk of developing an infection. Skull fractures can occasionally tear the membrane (the thin layer of cells) that surrounds the brain. If this happens, bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.

It's important that any external wounds on your head are kept clean so they don't become infected. You may also be prescribed Penicillin .

Post-concussion syndrome

Some people may experience long-term symptoms after sustaining concussion from a head injury. This could be post-concussion syndrome.

The symptoms and effects of post-concussion syndrome can include:

difficultylooking after yourself
not being able to work
a persistent headache
dizziness
feeling weak
tinnitus (hearing sounds that come from inside the body, rather than from an outside source)
nausea
feeling very tired and problems sleeping
memory problems
difficulty understanding others
poor concentration

These symptoms usually clear up in around three months, but you may need to be referred for further assessment by your GP.You may be seen bya neurologist, who specialises in problems of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves), or a psychiatrist (mental health specialist).

However, they can last years and some people will never regain consciousness.

For example, brain damage can occur as a result of increased pressure on the brain caused by ablood clotbetween the skull and the surface of the brain ( subdural haematoma ), or bleeding in and around the brain ( subarachnoid haemorrhage ).

After a brain injury, there's also an increased risk of epilepsy . A person whodevelops epilepsy following a head injury may need medication for a period of time or for life.

Brain injuries can also lead to a number of other problems, which can be temporary orpermanent. The effect of a brain injury will depend on:

the exact location of the injury
the type of injury for example, if the skull is fractured
the severity of the injury for example, if surgery is required

The different effects of a brain injury are described below.

Physical effects

Physical effects of a brain injury can include difficulty moving or keeping your balance and loss of co-ordination. You may also experience headaches or increased tiredness.

Hormonal effects

Some head injuries can damage the pituitary gland (a small gland that sits at the base of the brain and regulates the thyroid). If the pituitary gland is damaged, it may lead to reduced hormone production and problems such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) .

Sensory effects

You may lose your sense of taste and smell. You may also notice blind spots in your vision, or you may not be able to control your body temperature as well as before, so that you feel too hot or too cold.

Cognitive effects

Following a headinjury, you may find it difficult to think, process information and solve problems. You may also experience memory problems, particularly with your short-term memory, and have difficulty withspeech and communication skills.

Emotional or behavioural effects

After a severe head injury, you may experience changes to your feelings and behaviour. For example, you may be angrier or more easily irritated than before.

You may be less sensitive to other peoples feelings, or lose your inhibitions and behave in a way that other people consider inappropriate. You may also laugh or cry more than you did before the injury.

Getting support

As every brain injury is different, it's a good idea to seek further information about the possible effects and rehabilitation techniques. A number of charities and organisations may be able to help, including: