Differential Diagnosis for Head Injury
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Concussion: This is the most common type of head injury, often resulting from a blow to the head or a fall. It's a mild traumatic brain injury that can cause temporary cognitive, emotional, and physical symptoms.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Subdural Hematoma: A collection of blood on the brain's surface beneath its outer covering, often due to severe head injuries. It can cause symptoms like headache, confusion, and weakness.
- Epidural Hematoma: Similar to a subdural hematoma but located between the skull and the dura mater, the outermost membrane covering the brain. Symptoms can include severe headache, vomiting, and decreased consciousness.
- Skull Fracture: A break in one or more of the bones that form the skull, which can be caused by a severe blow to the head. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and bruising at the site of the fracture.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the space between the brain and the tissue that covers it, often due to a ruptured aneurysm or severe head injury. It can cause sudden, severe headache, vomiting, and decreased consciousness.
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Bleeding within the brain tissue itself, which can be caused by high blood pressure, trauma, or blood vessel malformations. Symptoms include sudden headache, weakness, and difficulty speaking.
- Cervical Spine Injury: An injury to the neck, which can occur in conjunction with a head injury and may lead to spinal cord damage. It's crucial to assess for neck pain, limited range of motion, and neurological deficits.
Rare Diagnoses
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM): An abnormal connection between arteries and veins in the brain, which can rupture and cause bleeding. Symptoms can mimic those of other head injuries but may also include seizures or neurological deficits.
- Meningitis: Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can be caused by infection following a head injury. Symptoms include fever, headache, and stiff neck.
- Cerebral Vasospasm: A temporary constriction of blood vessels in the brain, often following subarachnoid hemorrhage. It can lead to decreased blood flow to parts of the brain and may cause symptoms like headache, confusion, and weakness.