What is an open head injury?

An open head injury is one when an object penetrates the skull and pierces the brain tissue. It is also called a penetrating head injury. This can happen a number of ways, but the most common way to sustain an open head injury is as a result of having a skull fracture or it was the result of being hit by flying debris or glass in a car accident.

An open head injury needs to be treated immediately as it may result in brain swelling or bleeding or a serious infection. It is important to get a prompt medical workup if you believe you suffered a head injury.

Other types of head injuries exist like, closed head, coup-contrecoup brain injuries, concussions and diffuse axonal injuries. A closed head injury will have no visible blood or penetration of the skull. Coup-contrecoup brain injuries are the result of brain bruising caused when the momentum of a crash causes the brain to move inside the skull. A concussion is typically the result of being hit in the head. Diffuse axonal injury is result of the brain rapidly shifting inside the skull due to trauma that caused the axons/fibers to be sheared.

Other Brain Injury FAQs:

• Are all traumatic brain injury cases the same?
• Are concussions a form of brain injury?
• Are concussions a form of brain injury? My son plays a lot of football and hockey.
• Are there different types of skull fractures or are they all the same?
• Are there other symptoms I should be aware of when looking for or trying to assess a concussion?
• Are traumatic brain injuries common?
• As a college football player I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while on the field. Can I file a lawsuit for TBI against the coach and the college?
• Do the airbags and seat belts car manufacturers install in vehicles help prevent or minimize traumatic brain injury sustained in a collision?
• Does everyone go through the same therapy to recover from traumatic brain injury?
• How are brain injuries rated by doctors?
• How are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) treated?
• How Can A Head Injury Be Treated?
• How do people with brain trauma recover?
• How is anyone gong to believe me that I have sustained a concussion when one day I am my old self and then next I am right back where I was when I was first got injured? Should I just tough it out?
• I recently read that there is a large number of Americans living with a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. What kinds of disabilities would they be dealing with on a daily basis?
• I sustained a serious head injury in a car accident. Am I able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver?
• I was hit by an 18-wheeler and diagnosed with, among other things, traumatic brain injury. Would I be able to file a lawsuit?
• I was in a car accident but did not hit my head. My doctors say I have a traumatic brain injury (TBI). What does that mean?
• I was involved in a car accident recently and sustained a severe concussion. The doctor says it’s often called a silent epidemic or injury and I may have trouble suing for compensation because no one can see my injury. Does that affect my lawsuit?
• I was involved in an accident with a drunk driver and hit my head on the windshield. The doctors say I have a concussion. How long does it take to recover from a concussion, and how would that affect any lawsuit I may file?
• If a person sustains a severe traumatic brain injury, how much functional ability can he or she recover?
• If I am successful in my lawsuit and get sufficient compensation to continue recovering from a traumatic brain injury, what kinds of treatments will I be offered?
• Is traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosed using MRI or a CT scan?
• Is traumatic brain injury a common occurrence in vehicle accidents?
• My doctor says I have a brain stem injury. What does that mean?
• My doctor says I have an acquired brain injury. What does that mean?
• My doctor says my husband will have neurobehavioral problems after his head trauma. What does that mean?
• My friend who plays college football was taken off the field the other day. We thought he had a concussion but as it turned out he had both a skull fracture and a concussion. Can he sue the team for not warning him about the dangers of playing football?
• My mom was in a car accident and hit her head on the doorframe. It wasn’t much of a hit, but the doctor said she might experience traumatic brain injury symptoms that get worse over time. Should she talk to a personal injury lawyer?
• My sister was diagnosed with a brain injury. The hospital said there were two types of brain injuries. What are they?
• My son plays high school football and has been knocked out several times. The doctor thinks he has a traumatic brain injury. He was wearing a helmet. Is that possible?
• My wife was involved in an accident while playing soccer and reported being dizzy. The coach said she might have a traumatic brain injury after heading the ball and colliding with another player. Is that possible?
• Other than emotional and mental changes in my behavior, are there physical changes as well?
• People can recover from traumatic brain injury over the long term, right?
• The doctor says my prognosis after my traumatic brain injury is uncertain at this point. What does that mean?
• What are some of the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?
• What Are The Effects Of A Brain Injury?
• What are the main causes of traumatic brain injury?
• What are the most common symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
• What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
• What causes traumatic brain injury?
• What Is A Brain Injury?
• What is an open head injury?
• What is the most common cause for a traumatic brain injury?
• What kinds of cognitive problems may present themselves in a person with traumatic brain injury?
• What symptoms should I expect to experience as a result of my head injury?
• What types of head injuries are there?
• What types of injuries can cause traumatic brain injury?
• Why is traumatic brain injury (TBI) called a silent injury?