The Wilmington morning star., 1946-07-03
Doctor Says
injuries TO HEAD
LESS DANGEROUS
BY WILLIAM A. O'BRIEN. M. r

BY WILLIAM A. O'BRIEN. NJ, D.
Head injuries increase as the &C.
cident toll rises. The success Of
modern head injury treatment de-
ponds upon the cooperation Of tho
patients family and, as he be-
comes conscious, of tn patient
himself.
Experience acquired by the mill.
tary services during the war Ia,
produced more effective means Of
treating head injuries and Of pre-
dieting their outcome.
The scalp, skull, or brain may
be involved in a head injury.
Scalp wounds, while they appear
serious at the time of the accident,
heal more readily than do injured
tissues elsewhere in the body. TIA
lack of scalp sensation which FOL.
lows an injury has a tendency 10
disappear (severe complicating in.
fections do occur in occasional
cases, however,.
The base Of the skull is the east,
est portion to fracture, since the
dome is mor elastic. When 4
piece of broken skull bone sepa.
rates and presses on the brain,
it is necessary to operate in order
to lift the piece up. In penetrating
injuries of the skull and brain, the
foreign material which is intro
duced must be removed before
healing will occur.
Brain injuries are the most seri.
Gus variety of h a d trauma,
whether the skull is fractured or
not. The injury may result in a
jar (concussion), swelling (ede-
MAD, bleeding hemorrhage), or a
tear.
In conclusion, the patient is
temporarily rendered unconscious.
On recovery, he may vomit, com
plain of dizziness, and feel shaky
for a time, then snap out of it.
In more extensive injuries Of the
brain, consciousness returns more
slowly, requiring hours, days, or
weeks. Many victims of head in-
juries are able to feed themselves,
carry on a conversation, and drive
a car without remembering any
thing. Keep close watch ever those
who have sustained head injuries,
to prevent further accidents.
In addition to brain damage, the
nerves which are attached to Inc
base Of the brain may be injured,
resulting in difficulty vita vision,
hearing, OF moving the muscles Of
the face.
Head injury patients require ea.
pert nursing care. In the eally
stages, treatment of shock may be
more important than direct care
! of the head injury.
The victim of a head injury
should be moved carefully, to
avoid further injury. He should be
kept II bed until all signs of in.
creased pressure in the skull have
1 disappeared, as this is the best
way to combat the headache and
t dizziness which develop if the pa
+ tlent gets up too soon.
5 Ice bags placed on the head are
soothing, but sedatives should be
!, used with great caution. Patients
may move about in bed while still
unconscious, but they should not
be allowed to get out of bed,
The result Of a head injury de-
ponds upon the amount of perma-
nent brain damage sustained. Mil
ltary experience indicates that
many mental changes which fol
low head injuries eventually dis.
appear under rehabilitation man.
: agemeat.
QUESTION: We have been mar.
} RED two years, but have not been
able to have a child. Is there anv.
1hlng WI can do TO correct This
condition? "A'
ANSWER: You and your Nus.
band should be examined II Js.
1ermlne the cause Of your rteriItv.
II nothing can be done to bsin
you or your husband, you .bmIld
5 consider the possibility Of .dont.
ing a child.