Head injury causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods

Publication date: August 10, 2020

Traumatic brain injuries are a common cause of cephalalgia and other neurological disorders. Pain often indicates the development of life-threatening complications that require emergency care (including surgery). If chronicity occurs, then symptomatic treatment of headache after injury is carried out using the same techniques and drugs as for primary cephalgia.

Types of injuries due to noise in the head:

The most common form of closed TBI and the cause of noise in the head is a concussion. It can occur with a blow to the head, a fall, playing sports, or as a result of a car accident. The most traumatic sports in terms of TBI include boxing, hockey, karate, judo, football, and cycling.

Note! In most cases, after a concussion, post-concussion syndrome develops, in which the symptoms of a TBI do not go away for several weeks or even months.

With a concussion, unlike other head injuries, there are no internal pathological changes, that is, there is no damage to brain structures. With hematomas and hemorrhage, we are talking about a bruise (concussion), which is one of the more severe types of TBI. It occurs as a result of a blow to the head when falling on a hard surface (for example, hitting ice), during an accident, sports competitions, or combat.

For mild head injuries, there may be no visible signs

In the structure of TBI, brain contusion accounts for 20-25% of cases. It is characterized by crushing of nervous tissue, with the formation of a hemorrhage focus in the medulla.

Symptoms of bruises and concussions depend on the severity of the traumatic brain injury. Therefore, TBIs can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Let's take a closer look at the types of head injuries that cause noise in the head.

After a concussion

Under the influence of mechanical force, the brain shakes inside the skull, vascular spasm occurs, blood flow changes, which causes functional disorders to develop. Autonomic disorders come to the fore.

Mechanism of TBI

More often than not, after a concussion, noise in the head and other symptoms appear on the day of the injury. In severe TBI, delayed symptoms occur over several days or weeks and require special attention.

Clinical picture of concussion:

• brief confusion or loss of consciousness;
• single vomiting immediately after injury;
• retrograde amnesia;
• pale skin;
• dizziness;
• noise and ringing in the ears;
• double vision;
• constriction or slight dilatation of the pupils;
• nausea;
• weakness;
• pressing headache;
• increase in body temperature.

Immediately after a concussion, a person cannot concentrate; there are problems with coordination of movements, speech, hearing, and vision. Confusion lasts from 5 to 30 minutes.

There are 3 stages of concussion severity:

• Easy. Has the most favorable course. The person’s condition returns to normal after 20 minutes. after injury. The disturbance of consciousness is mild, slight fainting, problems with spatial orientation, headache, nausea and dizziness, and increased body temperature are possible.
• Average. Disorientation lasts more than 20 minutes, temporary memory loss is possible. The victim does not remember the events that occurred immediately before the injury.
• Heavy. A concussion is always accompanied by loss of consciousness, and retrograde amnesia develops. Dizziness, headache, noise in the ears and head persist for a long time. The victim constantly feels sick, has no appetite or strength.

Headache and dizziness may persist for several months after a TBI, but this is not normal. Regardless of the severity of the injury and clinical manifestations, it is necessary to immediately undergo a neurological examination. Comprehensive diagnostics and qualified medical care will be provided at the medical center.

With timely and correct treatment, the patient's condition returns to normal within 1-2 weeks. If the victim did not go to the hospital on time, then a month after the injury, delayed symptoms may occur:

• headache of a pressing or squeezing nature;
• dizziness;
• drowsiness during the day, sleep disturbance at night;
• fatigue, nervousness;
• increased anxiety, depression;
• decreased mental activity;
• irritability;
• decreased hearing and visual acuity;
• noise in ears.

Sometimes patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury suffer not only from neurological, but also mental disorders, which include depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and other disorders.

After hitting your head or falling

Hearing disorders and noises in the head are often the result of blows to the back of the head or falling on the ice while skating. It is in the occipital region that the brain regions responsible for vestibular and auditory function are located.

The severity of the consequences and symptoms depends on the type of TBI. A noise in the head after a fall may indicate the following injuries:

• brain concussion;
• fracture of the skull bones, due to which compression of the brain structures occurs, blood circulation is disrupted, and intracranial pressure increases;
• hematoma or hemorrhage, which is a sign of brain contusion;
• damage to the eardrum or inner ear.

An alarming signal is a severe headache after a blow or fall, which intensifies when tilting the head, does not go away the next day. If it is caused by a brain contusion, then nothing can stop it. After a few days, relief may occur, but then the patient’s condition will sharply worsen. Without treatment, the swelling will only increase, increasing the likelihood of repeated hemorrhage.

With a mild injury, the blood in the brain completely resolves within 2-3 weeks

The clinical picture of a brain contusion depends on the severity of the injury:

• Easy. The main symptoms include short-term loss of consciousness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to loud sound and bright light, deterioration of memory and concentration.
• Average. TBI of this severity is characterized by more massive intracranial hematomas and severe neurological disorders. As a result of a brain contusion, a person loses consciousness. He is in an unconscious state from several minutes to 2-4 hours. In addition to loss of consciousness, there is a headache, sensory disorders, respiratory problems, and noise in the head and ears.
• Heavy. If the injury is severe, the person may fall into a coma. Since vital functions, which include breathing and blood circulation, are disrupted, long-term rehabilitation is required.

After a brain injury, long-term consequences are likely, which can cause noise in the head and constant headaches. These include impaired cerebral blood flow, intracranial hypertension, vasospasm, and hydrocephalus.

Post-traumatic headache

Appears within 1-2 weeks after a head and neck injury, disappears as you recover. It is a consequence of mechanical or impulse impact during falls, road accidents, bicycle collisions, fights, sports competitions, etc.

Post-traumatic headache (PTHA) occurs for the following reasons:

• cerebral edema;
• pressure on the meninges;
• damage to nerve endings;
• hemorrhages, hematomas;
• dislocation of the cerebral hemispheres;
• increased intracranial pressure.

Predisposing factors for the appearance of PTTH include stress, sleep problems, taking painkillers, impaired production of serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, norepinephrine.

Post-traumatic headache resembles migraine or tension headache

According to the nature of the pain syndrome, it can be acute (lasts less than 3 months) and chronic (more than 3 months). Accompanied by the following accompanying symptoms:

• nausea or vomiting;
• sound and light sensitivity, intolerance to certain odors;
• hearing impairment;
• sleep disturbance;
• ringing in the head, ears;
• decreased cognitive abilities;
• dizziness;
• mood swings.

With an increase in intracranial pressure, PTTH intensifies in the morning and has a bursting character. In some patients, it spreads along the nerve fibers, affecting the area of ​​the temple, orbit and back of the head, and intensifies with coughing, physical activity, and head movements.

Note! Noise in the head and ears, as a long-term consequence of TBI, is more common with mild degrees of damage. If the patient did not immediately call an ambulance because he considered his condition to be satisfactory, he should definitely be examined in the next few days.

Causes

The cause of a contusion of the soft tissues of the head can be:

• road traffic accidents . Both the driver himself and a passenger or pedestrian can hurt his head;
• domestic injuries . Often people get injured while doing work around the house or in the yard, as a result of falls from a height of human height, bruises on hard surfaces;
• criminal traumatism . Contusion of the soft tissues of the head can occur when struck with a blunt object or fist;
• childhood traumatism . A child can get injured while playing, riding a bike, a slide or a swing. In infants, the head is the heaviest part of the body and is therefore often damaged when falling. The baby may also be injured during childbirth;
• sports injuries . Bruises of the soft tissues of the head often occur in adults and children when playing sports. Various types of martial arts, cycling, and ski jumping are especially dangerous for injury;
• industrial injuries . A person can get a bruise to the tissues of the head at work if he does not follow safety rules.

How is a noise in the head diagnosed after a head impact?

If there is a history of recent TBI, then this is the main possible cause of noise in the head. The doctor conducts a physical examination, studies the patient’s complaints, conducts neurological testing: checks reflexes, identifies motor and speech disorders.

With mild concussions and bruises, patients often do not seek medical help, which is why the consequences of TBI are delayed.

The doctor must prescribe an additional instrumental examination, which includes the following diagnostic methods:

• Radiography. Shows the integrity of the skull bones. It is performed in two projections: direct and lateral.
• Computed tomography (CT). Informative regarding skull fractures, brain contusions, hematomas.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Allows you to identify swelling of soft tissues, areas of hemorrhage, structural changes, and determine the dislocation of the cerebral hemispheres. It is carried out to diagnose post-traumatic complications, which include frequent headaches and noise in the head, and is the most informative method. You can get an MRI at the SmartMed clinic, where a new MRI scanner is installed. The examination has a high degree of accuracy, so you can reliably determine the cause of noise in the head.
• Angiography of cerebral vessels. Allows you to identify all vascular disorders that can cause noise and headaches.
• Encephalography. Designed to assess the functional activity of the brain in order to identify functional disorders that arose after TBI.

Based on the examination results, the doctor determines the cause of the headache and ringing.

Since the appearance of these symptoms may be associated not only with damage to blood vessels or nervous tissue, increased intracranial pressure, but also with stress and a depressive state after a TBI, you should visit a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Diagnostics

A head injury requires clarification - what changes have occurred in the soft tissues, skull bones and brain matter.

Therefore, when visiting a doctor, the following diagnostic measures are carried out:

• Clarification of complaints - where it hurts, how it hurts, if there is dizziness, weakness in the limbs and other manifestations.
• Taking an anamnesis - the circumstances of the injury are clarified (where the blow was, what force, what object), what happened immediately after the blow (loss of consciousness, vomiting), how the condition has changed over time, whether treatment was carried out and with what effect.
• Inspection of the injury site.
• General examination , allowing to assess the patient’s condition, measuring blood pressure, pulse and other indicators.
• Assessment of neurological status - the presence of general symptoms indicating brain damage and signs of loss of one or another of its functions.
• Laboratory and instrumental studies - radiography of the skull bones, echo-encephalography, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

This is a standard list of activities; if necessary, it is expanded or reduced. For example, if there is a wound on the head under a bandage, an x-ray is immediately performed, and the wound is inspected during the operation. And if a hematoma is suspected, an MRI or CT scan is additionally performed.

Treatment of noise in the head after injury

If the noise in your head does not go away after the injury is healed, something needs to be done. Complex therapy will be required. Treatment methods:

• Taking medications. The doctor chooses medications taking into account the existing problems. These can be anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs, analgesics, nootropics, drugs that normalize the tone of blood vessels and improve blood circulation, neuroprotectors. For cervical muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed, and vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed to maintain good health.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures. Electrophoresis, electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, ultrasound therapy and others are used.
• Head and neck massage. It can be done only after the end of the acute period, if there are no contraindications, which include high blood pressure, inflammatory and oncological processes, vascular thrombosis, etc.

The severity of the consequences, and, consequently, the duration of treatment depends on the degree of damage to the brain structures. Chronic headaches and noise in the head will take a long time to be treated. In general, full recovery after a TBI takes about 1.5-2 years, but symptoms disappear within a few months.

If after a traumatic brain injury the headache does not go away within 3 months, treatment is required

To increase the effectiveness of therapy, the following doctor’s recommendations should be followed:

• stop drinking strong tea and coffee, alcoholic beverages, and smoking;
• get enough sleep, sleep at least 8 hours at night, fall asleep before 22:00;
• switch to easier physical and mental work;
• stop watching TV or computer;
• walk in the fresh air more often;
• avoid stress, noisy and crowded places;
• switch to proper nutrition, do not eat fatty and fried foods.

After a concussion and other head injuries, the patient is less able to tolerate changes in weather conditions, any stress, his memory deteriorates, and diligent mental activity is accompanied by headache and dizziness. Mood and blood pressure swings are not uncommon.

How a person will feel after hitting their head depends on the timeliness and correctness of medical care.

First aid at home and when to go to hospital

The most important condition for a head injury is rest. If a person has fallen and does not move, he should not be disturbed so as not to aggravate the situation. It is necessary to assess his condition and well-being on the spot, and only if it does not cause serious concern, then the patient can be allowed to move.

If there is loss of consciousness, vomiting or dizziness, you need to call an ambulance. You should also consult a doctor if the headache does not go away for a long time, weakness or drowsiness increases, or other complaints persist. It is not recommended to go to the doctor on your own.

If you hit your head, the first thing you need to do is apply a cold compress.

The arriving medical team will conduct an on-site examination, make a preliminary diagnosis and provide assistance. If hospitalization is necessary, they will accompany the patient to the medical facility.

Before the team arrives, you can apply cold to the bruise - ice from the refrigerator or, if there is no ice, any frozen product in a bag. The ice must be wrapped in a towel to prevent hypothermia. Under the influence of cold, blood vessels contract, bleeding decreases (externally and in the tissue), and the development of edema is prevented.

If there is a deep abrasion or wound, you should also consult a doctor. You may need to get a tetanus shot. It is better not to treat the impact site at home with anything. The wound should be covered with a sterile napkin or a clean cloth, ironed, and lightly pressed to stop the bleeding. Under no circumstances should you apply too much pressure, so as not to displace bone fragments if there is a fracture.

Complications and consequences of injury

A complication of a head injury can be injury to the skull, brain, or cervical spine.

Even with proper treatment, sometimes consequences remain:

• weather sensitivity;
• mental manifestations, for example, in the form of emotional lability;
• decreased memory and thinking abilities;
• headache;
• insomnia;

• periodic dizziness;
• intracranial hypertension.

Severe injuries that damage brain matter may result in complete loss or impairment of function associated with that area of ​​the brain, such as limb weakness, hearing loss, or speech impairment.