Newly-initiated spinal cord injury survivors are hit with a dizzying array of terms to remember—and doctors aren't always the best at simplifying what their endless list of jargon actually means to patients. These terms are often used semi-interchangeably by non-experts, but doctors often have a set definition in mind when they use either term.
What is a concussion? How do the two terms differ from one another? What treatments are available for each? How can I tell if I have a contusion or a concussion? Here is some information to help you answer these questions:. What is another name for contusion? Contusions can occur in any part of the body subjected to trauma that ruptures blood vessels. For example, say you get hit hard in the arm with a baseball, and it bruises.
That bruise could be called a contusion by medical professionals. Or, say you fall hard on your back, and it bruises. That could be a sign of a spinal contusion —which can be every bit as bad as a contusion in the brain. While contusions can happen anywhere on the body, concussions are specific to injuries that affect the brain—and may not involve visible bruises. The effects of a concussion are varied, and may change in severity depending on the location of the injury, the severity of the force applied to the brain, and the quality of care following the injury.
One might assume a concussion is just a more serious contusion. The reality is that the two injuries are fundamentally different. While they are related, and one can cause the other, understanding the difference between a concussion vs contusion can help you get a better idea of what to expect from your recovery journey. Because both contusions and concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury TBI , and because both are often the result of a fall or blow to the head, it's easy to confuse the two.
Even more confusing is the fact that you can have both at the same time. A contusion does not mean you have a concussion, but some contusions are caused by head trauma so severe that the damage affects a larger portion of your brain.
Likewise, a concussion does not necessarily indicate a contusion, since shaking and other brain injuries can produce brain damage without visible bruising. Download our Simplified Guide to Understanding a Brain Injury for more details on the anatomy of injuries to the brain. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the effects of head contusions.
Depending on the severity of a contusion, it's possible to experience no symptoms at all, aside from some minor pain or swelling on the area where you hit your head.
When symptoms are present, they range from minor to life-threatening, and can include:. Contusions in the head can vary in severity depending on their location and the amount of internal bleeding that occurs. Common head injuries resulting from blows to the head such as from walking into an object headfirst, being struck with a baseball, or similar events can result in a mild contusion.
Mild head contusions often only have surface bruising at the site of the impact, and may be associated with some pain at the injury site, but with no noticeable long-term effects. Moderate contusions may cause internal bleeding near or around the brain, and are often caused by more severe head traumas.
These contusions may be accompanied by concussions, and can cause more severe symptoms, such as short-term memory loss, difficulty focusing, and loss of consciousness. Severe contusions can be life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention.
When these contusions occur in the brain, they can result in concussion-like symptoms and are extremely frequently paired with concussions. Severe contusions should always be treated as soon as possible to prevent or limit permanent harm. Even with treatment, there may be permanent damage—although prompt care can limit the severity of these effects.
Contusion treatment options will vary depending on the severity of the contusion and its location in the head. Mild contusions may go away with the simple passage of time. Contusion treatment regimens should be prescribed by an expert physician after undergoing a thorough examination. During the examination, doctors may:. The recovery time for a contusion varies based on the severity of the injury and the treatment regimen.
Some minor contusions can clear up in a few days with nothing more than simple bed rest and mild medication. Other contusions can takes weeks or even months to heal—especially if invasive surgery was required to alleviate pressure on the brain.
Consider seeking immediate medical attention with any form of head injury as the consequences of unrecognized or inappropriately treated head injury may be potenaatially serious. Patients with minor head injuries will be observed and treated for symptoms, including pain medication for headache and medications to control nausea and vomiting.
If you have symptoms of a simple concussion, you should avoid being overly active. Your physician will advise you as to when you can return to your normal daily routine and sporting activities. More serious, traumatic brain injuries will require individualized and often emergency care, such as surgery to remove blood clots and relieve pressure on the brain.
Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations.
The teddy bear denotes child-specific content. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What is a head injury? How is a head injury evaluated? How is a head injury treated? Which test, procedure or treatment is best for me? Specific types and symptoms of head injuries include: Concussion : Also called a mild traumatic brain injury. There are several types of traumatic brain injury, but they all fall into just two categories: closed or penetrating. This kind of traumatic brain injury doesn't have to come from a direct hit, either.
It can come from shockwaves, like an explosion, or from being shaken violently, like shaken baby syndrome. Penetrating brain injuries are from such things as gunshot wounds and impaled objects. Penetrating brain injuries are less common than closed head injuries and much more straightforward: Something enters the skull and directly damages the brain tissue.
Closed head injuries are more complicated and have several different presentations patterns of signs and symptoms. These are the different types of closed traumatic brain injury:. The differences in signs and symptoms of each type of traumatic brain injury are subtle.
Diagnosing is almost impossible without specialized equipment. First aid is pretty much the same for all types of traumatic brain injury. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Updated August 13, Updated December 1, Injury profiles, demography and representativeness of patients with TBI attending a regional emergency department.
Brain Inj.
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