A Cerebral Contusion is when there is bruising on the brain – this happens in around 20-30% of all serious head injuries. Blood vessels in the brain get damaged and leak. This causes pockets of blood to form either in or around the brain. Consequently, the pressure builds up and it will affect the brain.
Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Contusion
Signs and symptoms will depend on the location of the cerebral contusion on the brain. However, most cases will include motor coordination, numbness and memory problems. Skull fractures are where the skull is fractured due to direct or indirect force. There is sometimes blood which is straw-coloured. You may also notice clear fluid coming from ears and nose, which is cerebrospinal fluid. Other things you may see include blood in whites of eyes and evidence of impact, depression or bruise.
First Aid
If someone has damaged their head, there is a major chance that their spine has been damaged as well. Therefore you should try and immobilise the spine but only if you are trained to do so! If there are any external bleeds, make sure to treat them first. You want to try and keep blood inside the body. Since you are dealing with head injuries, you will be dealing with one of the most important organs in the human body – the brain. So treat the patient with as much care as possible and of course, make sure the Emergency Medical Services are on their way.
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