Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

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Head, Back and Neck Injuries

Injuries sustained in the head, back or neck can have serious long-term consequences such as paralysis and can even result in death if not treated properly and promptly.

head injury

Patients who have sustained significant blunt trauma to these areas require special handling and precautions including immobilization that only trained medical staff should perform to avoid further damage to the spinal cord nerves.

Diagnosing Head Injuries, Back and Neck Injuries

To properly diagnose the type and severity of a head, back and neck injury, all our emergency rooms are staffed with qualified professionals in orthopedists and emergency room physicians, in addition, each center is equipped with the latest generation of diagnostic technology including:

  • X-Rays.
  • CT Scan.

What are the Causes of Head Injuries, Back Injuries, and Neck Injuries?

Head injuries range from mild bumps, scrapes or bruises to more traumatic brain injuries which could have long-term effects if left untreated. To properly diagnose the type and severity of a head injury, an emergency medical evaluation is required.

Common Causes

Generally speaking, there are two main causes for head injuries, those caused by blows and those caused by shaking.

Shaking injuries are more common in infants and small children but adults can also suffer them if they experience violent shaking.

Injuries caused by a blow to the head are normally associated to:

  • Car crashes.
  • Falls.
  • Physical assaults.
  • Sports-related accidents.

Types of Head Injuries

  • Concussion: A concussion occurs when the brain bounces against the hard walls of the skulls. The loss of function associated with a concussion is usually temporary, however, it could lead to permanent damage if the injury is recurrent.
  • Contusion: Depending on the severity of the hematoma (bruise) on the brain, this type of injury could be very dangerous.
  • Hemorrhage: The bleeding could be around the brain tissue or within the brain tissue, either case is extremely dangerous.
  • Edema: Swelling is particularly dangerous when it occurs in the brain as the skull cannot expand to accommodate the enlarged tissue, this creates pressure on the brain which could lead to permanent side-effects.
  • Skull Fracture: Although the bones of the skull are very hard and don’t break easily, a hard-enough blow to the skull could cause them to break, if the break is severe enough it could result in a brain injury.

Warning Signs of a Head injury

Warning signs of a head injury that requires immediate emergency medical treatment include:

  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Confusion.
  • Distorted facial features.
  • A severe headache.
  • Vomiting.
  • Impaired function of the upper or lower extremities.
  • Double or fuzzy vision.
  • Convulsions.
  • Memory loss.
  • Impaired speech.
  • Low breathing rate.

Back Injuries

Back Pain Causes

Back injuries can result from any of the following:

  • Daily wear and tear
  • Sports-related injuries.
  • Falls.
  • Bad posture.
  • Heavy lifting.
  • Car accidents.
  • Excessive twisting of the spine.
  • Direct blows to the top or back of the head.
  • Penetrating injuries.

Types of Back Injuries

Common back injuries include:

  • Sprains and Strains: These can occur in any muscle, tendon, or ligament in the back area, causing either lower back pain or upper back pain.
  • Herniated disks.
  • Fractured or dislocated vertebrae.
Warning Signs
  • Notable swelling.
  • Acute or chronic pain in the upper or lower back region.
  • Severe pain when standing or walking.
  • Redness or streaks on the back

Neck Injuries

Back Pain Causes

Back injuries can result from any of the following:

  • Daily wear and tear
  • Sports-related injuries.
  • Falls.
  • Bad posture.
  • Heavy lifting.
  • Car accidents.
  • Excessive twisting of the spine.
  • Direct blows to the top or back of the head.
  • Penetrating injuries.