Minor Head Injury

Minor head injuries are a common type of personal injury due to the fact that people mostly lead with their heads when they move; the head is often the first point of contact in an accident and can bear the brunt of the force. While in most cases, a minor head injury refers to an injury to the head alone, they can also affect the brain, but of course these tend to be more severe injuries. Minor head injuries include whiplash; lacerations to the head, scalp or face; severe bangs to the head causing headaches or affecting vision and/or hearing; and skull fractures. Fractures to the skull vary when it comes to their type, severity and treatment:

• Linear skull fractures are simple fractures, often in a straight line, and are common, especially in children. These do not tend to be serious unless the brain is affected, which is not usual.
• Depressed skull fractures are often suffered after a blow with a blunt object such as a rock. They essentially dent the skull and cause a depression or indent. Depending on the severity, surgery may be needed to elevate the bones of the skull to their rightful place.
• Basilar skull fractures are fractures of the bones that make up the base or floor of the skull and arise from severe blunt head trauma.

These are only some of the types of minor head injuries that can occur; the term 'minor' can be misleading as all head injuries must be taken seriously. Head injuries are notoriously difficult to diagnose and you may not even realise that you or your loved one has suffered anything more than a simple bump to the head. Symptoms to look out for include dizziness, seeing 'stars', disorientation, vomiting and perhaps even temporary loss of memory. Mild concussion can be grouped under the term 'minor head injury' given that it may only involve a very brief moment of blacking out and no other symptoms, however more serious concussion can affect the brain with a more prolonged period of loss of consciousness. Whenever you have had a personal injury that involves your head, you should err on the side of caution and if you think there may be any cause for concern, seek medical attention.