When is a head injury serious?

The question has been raised in the wake of actress Natasha Richardson’s death earlier this year. Richardson appeared in a number of Broadway plays but may be best known to moviegoers for her roles in “Nell” and “The Parent Trap.” She died within days of suffering a head injury from a skiing accident.

“Most people recover from head injuries and have no lasting effects,” says John Whitley, M.D., Ph.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon on the staff of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. He is in practice with the Oak Ridge Neurosurgery / Spine Center.

Many of these accident victims have headaches, nausea and dizziness immediately after a head injury, he added. They also may experience ringing in the ears, anxiety or fatigue, neck pain, problems with concentration, and some memory loss. While these symptoms may last a few weeks or even longer, they are not necessarily life-threatening.

Dr. Whitley advises people to get medical help if the headaches, nausea or sleepiness become worse or there are changes in the patient’s behavior. “Other danger signs are dilated pupils, difficulty speaking or walking, vomiting, seizures, drainage of bloody or clear fluids from the nose or ears, and weakness or numbness in the legs or arms.”

When these symptoms appear, drive the person to an emergency room or call 911.

While you wait for help to arrive, here are some do's and don'ts if you suspect someone may have a head injury:

Do not move the person unless absolutely necessary. Check the person’s airway and breathing, and begin rescue breathing and CPR if you know how to perform these procedures. Place your hands on both sides of the person’s neck to prevent it from moving. Roll the person’s head, neck and body as one unit to prevent choking if the person vomits.

Press a clean cloth, if one is available, to stop any bleeding, but do not remove the cloth if it becomes soaked with blood. Do not apply direct pressure if there’s a possibility the skull might be fractured. Do not remove any debris from around the wound or any objects sticking out of it. Do not pick up a child who may have a head injury.

For more information about head injuries, call 1-800-468-6767, or click on the link below.