Any kind of head injury should be addressed by a medical professional as soon as possible. Sometimes, head injuries that appear to be severe from the outside are not as bad as they seem, while injuries that appear mild may actually be more serious. A severe head injury will usually be treated at a hospital to reduce any risks of complication.
Here, we'll look at some of the best treatment options that are used by medical professionals to manage head injuries.
The Initial Treatment:
Usually, the best treatment options to help manage head injuries will begin with a careful assessment from a healthcare professional. These experts will check for any potentially life-threatening issues, by checking to see your breathing is clear and normal. They will also stop any bleeding, stabilize the spine and neck, and splint any broken or fractured bones.
Only once a person with a confirmed head injury has been defined as stable, will they be able to have further tests conducted to help determine the next stage in their treatment. Most of the time, this will involve the use of a computerized tomography or, CT scan, which helps to ascertain how severe your injury might be.
Observation Is Crucial:
When it comes to the best treatment options to help manage head injuries, it's important to remember that observation is crucial. The professionals that are treating you will check for a number of things, including your level of consciousness and how alert you are, the size of your pupils and their reaction to light, how well you can move, and other important vitals.
Crucial checks will be made regularly until it's clear that you're fully conscious and capable of speaking, and moving as requested. Additionally, if your CT scans show swelling or bleeding in your skull, a small ICP monitor might be fitted inside your head. During this time, a small wire will be pushed through the area between the brain and the skull, through a small hole in the bone. The wire will attach to an electronic device that alerts hospital staff to changes in pressure.
The Possibility of Surgery:
Often, a number of tests will need to be carried out in order for a doctor or surgeon to determine what the best course of action is when it comes to the best treatment options to help manage head injuries. In very severe cases, where the damage to your head or brain is significant, or can be linked to problems with the nerves, spinal cord, and brain, neurosurgery may be required.
Neurosurgery is any form of surgery that is used to treat problems with the nervous system. In the case of a significant head injury, neurosurgery is typically carried out within the brain. Reasons for this kind of surgery might include hemorrhaging or bleeding in the brain, a blood clot within the skull, or contusions (bruises) on the brain which might later lead to blood clots.
Skull fractures might also be addressed with surgery. Each of these problems will be identified with the use of careful tests and CT scans. If surgery is required, then a neurosurgeon might need to come and speak to your family about the risks.