A to Z: Head Injury

Also called: Head Trauma

A head injury is any physical harm to the scalp, skull, or brain.

Head injuries are very common and usually not serious. They can be external or internal:

External head injuries are injuries to the scalp. These injuries often look serious because the scalp has many blood vessels that can bleed, sometimes causing a big lump (or "goose egg") that can take days or weeks to disappear. Applying an ice pack or instant cold pack (wrapped in a washcloth or towel) to the injured area for up to 20 minutes every 3-4 hours for the first 1-2 days can help ease swelling.
Internal head injuries may involve the skull, blood vessels inside the skull, or the brain itself.
- A concussion is a type of internal head injury. In a concussion, a person temporarily loses brain function. Someone may have a concussion even when there's no obvious wound or unconsciousness. After a concussion, the brain needs time to heal. Recovery time will depend on how long the symptoms last. It's very important to wait until all symptoms have ended before resuming normal activities.