High-energy head injuries
High-energy injuries to the head occur when the head hits against another object with great force or pressure. This type of injury puts a person at increased risk for a brain injury, even when there is no visible external bleeding or other obvious sign of injury.
High-energy injuries to the head can occur in a variety of ways, including:
- Falls in which the head strikes an object with significant force. A fall from a height of 4ft may be enough to cause an injury.
- Motor vehicle accidents in which the head strikes and cracks or breaks the windshield or dents the inside of the vehicle.
- Sports injuries, such as striking the head after falling from a fast-moving bicycle.
- Direct blows to the head with a hard object, such as a fist or a baseball bat swung with significant force.
Injuries to the neck or face are more likely to occur with a high-energy head injury.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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