Head injury

Minor head injuries and knocks to the head are common and it is unusual for any damage to the brain. It is quite common to get mild tenderness and swelling over the site of the knock with a mild headache.

However, sometimes a knock to the head can cause injury to an internal vessel in the brain, which may bleed next to the brain. This is uncommon but can be serious. Symptoms may not develop for hours, or even days after a knock to the head. In rare cases it can be several weeks.

Head Injury Instructions

Please contact a doctor quickly if
•    Increasing drowsiness
•    Worsening headache (it is normal to have a mild headache and tenderness)
•    Confusion or strange behaviour
•    Two or more bouts of vomiting
•    Loss of use of part of the body. For example, weakness in an arm or leg.
•    Dizziness, loss of balance or convulsions.
•    Any visual problems such as blurring of vision or double vision
•    Blood or clear fluid, leaking from the nose or ear
•    Unusual breathing patterns

SPORT

Head injuries can happen commonly in some sports such as rugby. It is important not to return to play if there has been any loss of consciousness, confusion, visual problems, loss of use of part of the body etc.

It is also recommended that after a significant head injury that a player does not continue playing contact sports for 3 weeks. This is to prevent ‘second impact syndrome’, when a second injury to the brain can cause coma and death. Please see your GP for advice.

Source: www.patient.co.uk
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/308/6944/1620 - ABC of Sport - head injury in sport