715.832.1700

Dr. Kamal Thapar, MD., PhD., FRCSC., FAANS
1200 Oakleaf Way, Suite A, Altoona, WI 54720

Head Injury

A head injury occurs when there is a significant impact to the scalp, skull or brain so that damage to one or more of these structures occurs.

Causes:

Anything that causes significant trauma to the head including:

– Falls

– A motor vehicle accident

– Sports related injuries

Symptoms:

– Headache

– Visual changes

– Dizziness

– Nausea and/or vomiting

– Memory loss or confusion

– Difficulty concentrating

– Loss of consciousness

Diagnosis:

When a patient with a head injury is evaluated, a CT scan of the head is often obtained to look for evidence of acute internal bleeding especially if there was a loss of consciousness at the time of the injury. An MRI of the brain may also be necessary to further investigate any possible brain damage.

Treatment:

What treatment is chosen for a head injury depends on the severity of the injury. Mild head injuries may be treated at home with close observation of the injured individual. More severe head injuries may require observation at the hospital and/or surgical intervention.