Traumatic injury that occurs in the skull as a result of an external force or energy, which does not produce a fracture.
Causes may include a fall, accident or direct blow.
Symptoms may appear at the time when the cause occurs or a few hours later: headache, loss or decrease in level of consciousness, memory loss and/or slight bleeding if there is an open wound.
The diagnosis is made by reviewing the patient's medical history and performing a complete physical examination. Sometimes an X-ray and/or a brain scan to rule out any bone fracture and/or internal haemorrhage is done as well.
Treatment includes a recommended 24-hour hospital observation stay to rule out complications, analgesics for pain, and local cold if inflammation is present.
After discharge from the hospital, if blurred vision, dizziness, loss of limb strength or any other strange symptoms appear, go to the hospital emergency department.
- A. Alfaro. Traumatismos craneoencefálicos. Exploración del traumatizado craneal. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen II. Duodécima edición. 1408:1413.
- B. Jennet, G. Teasdale. Diagnóstico y tratamiento de los traumatismos craneoencefálicos. Salvat. 83:99
- N. Padilla, J. Monge. Traumatismo craneoencefálico. Manejo en urgencias. Trauma 2002; 5(3): 92:96.
- UpToDate [Internet]. Waltham. 2017. Traumatic brain injury: Epidemiology, classification, and pathophysiology; [citado el 20 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/traumatic-brain-injury-epidemiology-classification-and-pathophysiology?source=search_result&search=contusion+cerebral&selectedTitle=2~150
