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A brain contusion is a bruised area of brain tissue caused by a head injury. Symptoms depend on severity and location, and medical attention should be sought immediately. There are two types of brain contusion, coup and counterblow injuries. Treatment includes pain management and surgery for severe swelling or skull fractures.
A brain contusion is a bruised area of brain tissue. Bruises result from a head injury, such as being struck with a blunt object or suffering the impact of a direct fall onto a hard surface. Small localized blood vessels rupture and release blood to the affected area, creating a bruise-like appearance elsewhere on the body. Symptoms associated with a brain contusion depend on the severity and location of the injury, although most patients experience some degree of head pain, confusion, and nausea. An individual experiencing any type of head injury should seek immediate medical attention to receive the appropriate treatment.
Doctors recognize two basic types of brain contusion, known as coup and counterblow injuries. A coup contusion is the direct result of a blow to the head, appearing at the place of impact. A kickback contusion forms on the opposite side of the head as the original site of impact, as a result of the brain shaking from the force of deceleration and making contact with the skull. Coup bruises are common in boxers, soccer players, and other athletes who are at risk of a direct blow to the head. Kickback bruises are most often seen when high-speed movement is suddenly interrupted, as can happen during an automobile accident or ski spill.
Depending on the severity of the initial impact, an individual who acquires a brain contusion may experience nausea, disorientation, or even lose consciousness. Even mild trauma can potentially lead to brain damage, and bruises are prone to spreading and swelling. Swelling, if left untreated, can cause increased intracranial pressure which causes severe pain. Most head injuries are immediately apparent following traumatic events, and victims should be taken to the emergency room as soon as possible for thorough evaluations.
Once admitted to an emergency room or hospital with a head injury, a patient is typically given pain relievers and seen by a neurologist. The specialist can assess the severity of the injury and check for signs of a brain contusion by taking diagnostic imaging screens of the brain and skull. A computed tomography scan can help your doctor identify signs of bruising or other abnormalities that may require immediate medical or surgical intervention.
Most brain contusions pose no long-term problems, and doctors decide to simply give pain management medications and conduct frequent checkups. Surgery is needed for severe swelling of the brain to relieve intracranial pressure. Finally, head injuries that result in skull fractures often require surgery to manually remove or repair damaged areas of bone and brain tissue.
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