Head Injury Assessment & Care in Sangareddy
Expert Polytrauma & Accident Care care at KBR Life Care Hospitals, Sangareddy
Head Injury Assessment & Care in Sangareddy
Head injuries range from a mild concussion that resolves within days to a severe traumatic brain injury that requires emergency neurosurgical intervention. The critical challenge is that a patient may appear alert and oriented immediately after a head impact, only to deteriorate rapidly over the following hours as an intracranial bleed expands. This pattern, the "talk and die" presentation, is why all head injuries must be taken seriously and monitored carefully.
At KBR Life Care Hospitals, Sangareddy, every patient presenting with a head injury receives a structured neurological assessment. We use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to grade level of consciousness, examine pupils and neurological responses, and apply evidence-based criteria to determine when CT head imaging is mandatory. We do not dismiss head injuries as minor without proper evaluation.
Warning signs that develop hours after a seemingly mild head impact, such as worsening headache, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion, or one pupil becoming larger than the other, are neurosurgical emergencies. When these signs are present, we escalate immediately to CT imaging and emergency neurosurgical coordination.
Types & Causes
Concussion (Mild TBI)
Temporary disruption of brain function after a blow; causes brief confusion, headache, dizziness, and memory fogginess without structural damage visible on CT
Scalp Laceration
Scalp wounds bleed profusely due to rich blood supply; require wound cleaning and closure, and assessment for underlying skull injury
Skull Fracture
A break in the skull bone after a direct blow; can be linear (without displacement) or depressed (fragment pushed inward toward the brain)
Extradural Haematoma (EDH)
Arterial bleed between skull and brain lining after a temporal bone fracture; presents with a lucid interval then rapid deterioration - neurosurgical emergency
Subdural Haematoma (SDH)
Venous bleed between brain layers; may be acute (after trauma) or chronic (in elderly patients after minor injury weeks earlier)
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Widespread microscopic brain damage from high-speed deceleration; causes prolonged unconsciousness without a localised bleed on CT
Symptoms to Watch For
Headache that begins or worsens after the head impact
Nausea or vomiting, particularly repeated vomiting
Confusion, disorientation, or inability to recall the event (amnesia)
Brief or prolonged loss of consciousness
Unequal or poorly reacting pupils
Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
Slurred speech or difficulty finding words
Drowsiness that is difficult to rouse from, in the hours after injury
Bleeding or clear fluid from the ears or nose after a head impact
When to See a Doctor
- Any loss of consciousness, even briefly, after a head impact
- Persistent or worsening headache after a head injury
- Two or more episodes of vomiting after a head impact
- Confusion, agitation, or odd behaviour following a blow to the head
- Seizure occurring after a head injury
- Clear fluid or blood from the ear or nose after trauma
- Head injury in an infant, young child, or elderly person, always seek immediate assessment
- A patient who initially seemed fine but is becoming increasingly drowsy hours later
How We Diagnose
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment and full neurological examination
- Pupillary assessment: size, equality, and light reflex
- CT head scan: indicated for GCS below 15, loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, vomiting, focal neurological signs, or suspected skull fracture
- X-ray skull when CT is not available and clinical assessment warrants imaging
- Blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitoring throughout assessment
Our Treatment Approach
- Immediate airway protection and oxygen supplementation to prevent secondary brain injury from hypoxia
- Cervical spine immobilisation until spinal injury is excluded
- Blood pressure management to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion
- Head-of-bed elevation at 30 degrees to reduce intracranial pressure
- Close neurological observation: GCS checks, pupil checks, and blood pressure at regular intervals
- CT imaging reviewed urgently and escalated to neurosurgery if intracranial bleed is identified
- Analgesia for headache with care to avoid masking neurological changes
- Clear written head injury advice provided to the patient and accompanying family for home monitoring in mild cases
Why Choose KBR Life Care Hospitals?
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about this specialty
Ready to Consult Our Polytrauma & Accident Care Experts?
Take the first step towards better health. Our experienced team at KBR Life Care Hospitals, Sangareddy is here to provide you with the best care possible.