Diagnosis and management of head trauma

The strategy of head injury management should be to minimize avoidable mortality and morbidity by reducing secondary brain damage. Patients with severe injuries are a minority, and their main needs are maintenance of the airway and nutrition. Some patients with less severe injuries are at risk for developing intracranial hematoma, and these need CT scanning. Pharmacological interventions may improve the outlook for patients with diffuse injuries associated with brain swelling.