title: For your information: head injury.
abstract: Head injury causes more deaths and disabilities than any other neurologic cause in individuals under age 50. Skull fractures can tear the arteries and veins that supply the meninges (the protective membrane covering the brain), causing hemorrhage or intracranial pressure from the rapidly expanding mass of clotted blood. Meningitis-causing bacteria can be introduced via the small openings caused by skull fracture. Even closed head injuries (head injuries that do not result in displaced skull fractures) can cause bruising and tearing of brain tissue. In the medical management of patients with head injuries, family and friends can play a key role in post-treatment observation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors