Head Injury After an Accident: Which Brain Tests Are Required?

Head injuries are one of the most common consequences of accidents, which can be due to road accidents, falls, sports injuries, etc. Head injuries sometimes might appear normal on the surface, but in many cases, we have heard patients have died or are suffering from serious complications due to internal bleeding or internal damage to the brain. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and death, which seems so simple at first, but is not so simple now. This is why it is very important to get yourself checked after a head injury, because prevention is better than a cure, as timely medical intervention can help in eliminating the serious complications.

What is a Head Injury?

Head injuries are nothing but any injury to your head that involves the skull, scalp, brain, blood vessels, and underlying tissues in the head.

What Symptoms Suggest That I Require a Brain Test After a Head Injury?

Symptoms of head injury are listed below:

• For mild head injury: bump on head, headache, irritability, confusion, lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue, pain in the eyes, etc.
• For moderate to severe head injuries:  severe headache which doesnt go away, dizziness, memory loss, loss of consciousness, difficulty in walking, Balance, seizure, behaviour changes, pale skin colour, bleeding from the nose or ears, difficulty in speaking, etc

Why Brain Test Important After a Head Injury?

Our brain is protected by the skull, but sudden accidents can still cause damage to the brain and its internal blood vessels. Timely diagnosis of the severity of the brain injury can help in making an informed medical intervention decision.

• Brain test can help in diagnosing:
• Internal bleeding
• Fracture 
• Swelling of the internal structures of the brain
• Bruising
• Determining the severity of head injury  

Which Brain Tests Are Required if I Have a Head Injury?

Skull X-Ray

It is a diagnostic test that uses electromagnetic waves to generate an image of the skull. This test is mainly done to detect any kind of fractures in the head

During a head Xray your technician may ask you to remove any jewellery, hairpins, and any other metal objects. After this, you will be positioned on the X-ray table, and the technician will ensure that your head is between the X-ray machine.

The technician will then step behind the protective window while your image is taken. They may ask you to hold still for a second. It is very important to stay still when the X-Ray is taken, as even little movements can damage the image generated. 

A head X-ray is generally advised by doctors in minor injuries or to detect fractures or bone displacement; however, it cannot detect internal brain injuries. To detect internal bleeding, other tests need to be done

CT Scan of the Brain

CT scan is short for computed tomography. A CT scan for the head is one of the most common tests that doctors recommend in case of an emergency situation, as it is fast and widely available, and it can help in detecting internal bleeding, brain fractures, and blood clots in minutes. 

A CT scan of the head is a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of X-ray and computer technology to generate a detailed image of the brain. It can also generate a 3d image of the brain. Therefore, a head CT can help in providing more detailed information about the head injuries

Before a Head CT, your technician may ask you to remove any metal objects such as jewellery, hairpins, a watch, sunglasses, etc. Please inform your doctor if you are on any kind of medication. If any contrast material will be used, then your doctor may also ask you not eat anything before the exam. 

You need to lie down on the CT scanner table and hold still. The table will then slide into the donut-shaped machine caller CT scanner, and images of your brain from different angles will be taken. This procedure is generally painless, but if you are claustrophobic, then you might find this procedure a little uncomfortable.

Brain MRI

Brain MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a diagnostic procedure that provides a more detailed image of the brain. Brain MRI is usually recommended when symptoms still persists and the healthcare professional can not make a medical decision based on the head CT results. Brain MRI uses strong radio magnetic waves to create a detailed, clear image of the inside of the brain. It is the most sensitive test compared to the head CT and Brain X-ray. This is a painless but noisy procedure; therefore, your technician may give you earplugs for the procedure. You also need to remove any metallic objects from the body and inform your doctor if you have any kind of implant in the body.

The MRI technique doesn't require radiation for generating head images, but you may need to lie down on the table, after which a technician may place a helmet-like device on your head. After this, the technician will slide you down the scanning bed on which you are lying into the MRI machine. When the MRI scan start you will hear loud noises of clicking images. You can use the earplugs to avoid these noises, but you need to stay very still,  any movement can distort the images 

What Do if I Dont Have Any Symptoms of Head Injury?

It is very important to know that sometimes symptoms of head injury don't appear immediately after the trauma, sometimes symptoms develop silently and show at a later stages therefor it is very important to keep an eye on the following symptoms:

• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Limb weakness
• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Excessive sleep
• Change in behaviour

If any of these symptoms appear, please repeat the brain imaging test

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a CT scan is safeafter head injury?

Yes, it is very safe, and the benefits of determining the life-threatening complications outweigh the risk of small exposure to radiation.

I don't have the symptoms of a head injury after the accident. Do I still need to go for a checkup?

Sometimes the symptoms may not appear immediately after the accident, but internal bleeding and other complications can grow inside the head silently and can lead to life-threatening conditions without any warning, such as haemorrhage. Therefore, it is better to diagnose complications early. 

Why CT scan done in an emergency and not an MRI?

A CT scan is fast as compared to MRI, the duration of an MRI is 30 to 60 minutes.

How long should I wait for a brain test after a head injury?

Brain imaging tests should be done immediately after the head injury to avoid serious complications.

Conclusion

No matter how small your head injury may look, you should never take it for granted. You never know what is happening inside your head; even a simple head injury can lead to serious complications without any warning. Brain imaging tests are important diagnostic tools that can help in identifying these issues timely. Make sure to visit a good xray clinical which uses only advanced and reliable diagnostic equipment so that you can have a authetic and reliable test results.