Head injury is common, and clinical presentations vary in severity and underlying pathology. Most patients can be safely managed in primary care. Clinicians working in the community should be able to differentiate between patients who can be reassured with appropriate safety-netting advice, and those who require urgent transfer to the emergency department for further assessment. This article covers the assessment and management of head injuries in adults and children including safeguarding, criteria for onward referral, and post-head injury advice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrasureMLambertyGJSayerNA, et al. (2012) Multidisciplinary postacute rehabilitation for moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in adults. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK98986 (accessed 26 September 2022).
2.
FujiiTFaulM andSasserS (2013)
Risk factors for cervical spine injury among patients with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock,
6(4): 252–258. DOI: 10.4103/0974-2700.120365.
3.
GerritsenHSamimMPetersH, et al. (2018)
Incidence, course and risk factors of head injury: A retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open8(5): e020364. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020364.
LawrenceTHelmyABouamraO, et al. (2016)
Traumatic brain injury in England and Wales: Prospective audit of epidemiology, complications and standardised mortality. BMJ Open6(11): e012197. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012197.
8.
MaasAMenonDKAdelsonPD, et al. (2017).
Traumatic brain injury: Integrated approaches to improve prevention, clinical care, and research. The Lancet. Neurology16(12): 987–1048. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30371-X.
9.
ManleyGGardnerAJSchneiderKJ, et al. (2017)
A systematic review of potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion. British Journal of Sports Medicine51(12): 969–977. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097791.
10.
MottTFMcConnonML andRiegerBP (2012)
Subacute to chronic mild traumatic brain injury.American Family Physician86(11): 1045–1051.
PrienAGrafeARösslerR, et al. (2018)
Epidemiology of head injuries focusing on concussions in team contact sports: A systematic review. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
48(4): 953–969. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-017-0854-4.
RobertsIShakur-StillHAeron-ThomasA, et al. (2021)
Tranexamic acid to reduce head injury death in people with traumatic brain injury: The CRASH-3 international RCT. Health Technology Assessment (Winchester, England)
25(26): 1–76. DOI: 10.3310/hta25260.
17.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2013) SIGN 130: Brain injury rehabilitation in adults. Available at: www.sign.ac.uk/media/1068/sign130.pdf (accessed 2 September 2022).
18.
SilverbergNDIaccarinoMAPanenkaWJ, et al. (2020).
Management of concussion and mild traumatic brain injury: A synthesis of practice guidelines. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation101(2): 382–393. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.10.179.
19.
Stern RA, Daneshvar DH, Baugh CM, et al. (2013). Clinical presentation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Neurology 81(13): 1122–1129. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a55f7f.
20.
StocchettiN andZanierER (2016)
Chronic impact of traumatic brain injury on outcome and quality of life: A narrative review. Critical Care (London, England)20(1): 148. DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1318-1.
