A head injury may cause a wide range of symptoms depending on how serious the injury is. Symptoms of a severe head injury can range from a temporary loss of consciousness up to a brain injury in the most serious cases.
A severe head injury may also cause:
- concussion – a sudden, but short lived, loss of mental function
- fits or seizures – when the body suddenly moves uncontrollably
- difficulty speaking or staying awake
- problems with the senses, such as loss of hearing or double vision
If you notice any of these symptoms, particularly a loss of consciousness (even for a short period of time), immediately go to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Read more information about the symptoms of a severe head injury.
Diagnosing a severe head injury
Head injuries are assessed by healthcare professionals using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). This is a scale from 3 to 15 that is used to identify how serious the injury is and how severely the brain has been damaged (with 3 being most severe and 15 least severe).
A head injury is usually classed as being severe if someone has a GCS score of eight or less. Further tests may sometimes be necessary to determine how serious your head injury is. This may include:
Read more information about diagnosing a severe head injury.
Treating a severe head injury
Severe head injuries should always be treated in hospital. Treatment in hospital will involve:
- observing the condition for any changes
- running tests to check for further damage
- treating any other injuries
Most people (around 97%) are able to go home after 48 hours. However, of the people admitted to hospital due to a head injury, 1-3% could develop a serious complication that may require surgery. Depending on how serious the operation is, you may need to recover in an intensive care unit (ICU).
Read more information about treating a severe head injury.
When you are discharged, your doctor will give you advice about the best way to help your recovery when you return home, which will depend on your injury and your individual needs. For some people, this might include therapy to help deal with any lasting symptoms or worries.
Read more information about recovering from a severe head injury.
Complications of a severe head injury
A severe head injury may cause bleeding, blood clots or a build-up of fluid, which puts pressure on the brain. This can sometimes lead to brain damage (brain injury) which can be temporary or permanent. Brain injuries can have emotional, behavioural and physical effects.
A severe head injury can also cause serious complications, including:
- increased risk of developing an infection after a skull fracture
- a coma, where a person is unconscious and unresponsive for a long time
- in rare cases, a vegetative state, where a person may seem awake but have no awareness of their surroundings
Read more information about complications after a severe head injury.
How common are head injuries?
Each year in England and Wales, around 700,000 people attend hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments with a head injury. While most of these are minor head injuries, around 10% are moderate or severe head injuries.
Head injuries are more common in men and children. The most common causes of head injuries are falls, assaults and road traffic accidents.
Read more information about the causes of severe head injuries.
Preventing a head injury
Although it can be difficult to predict or avoid a head injury, there are some steps you can take to help reduce the risk of serious injury to you or your child.
These include:
- wearing a safety helmet when cycling
- reducing hazards in the home that may cause a fall
- ‘childproofing’ your home
- using the correct safety equipment for work, sport and DIY
Read more information about preventing a minor head injury and how to prevent a fall.
