A contusion is a bruise on the brain that can enlarge over time and form a blood clot. Enlarging blood clots sometimes require surgical evacuation. Severe head injury usually occurs with high speed motor vehicle accidents. These are almost always accompanied by varying degrees of injury to multiple other organs. There is also a high incidence of spinal cord injuries with this kind of trauma.
Patients are usually in a deep coma.
They are cared for in the intensive care unit. A team of multiple doctors is involved in the care of such patients. Many of these patients require multiple tests including CT scans of the head, spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis. They may also require placement of a pressure monitor in the brain. Some may require immediate surgery for evacuation of blood clots from the brain.