Head Injury, No Headache, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting, No Blurred Vision. Has High BP. Is It Okay?

Posted on Sat, 9 Jun 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 9 Jun 2012 Answered on

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, my mother and I were assembling a bed today, and somehow the headboard fell down onto her head, it weighs a lot, of heavy wood. It seemed to fall only a foot before it hit her. But she said she saw stars immediately after, and I gave her ice. It has been 6-7 hours, and only a small lump or knot formed. No headache developed in this time, and no dizziness, nausea, vomiting, pupils have looked okay, no blurred vision. We managed to put the bed together, and she has been cleaning the rest of the day, and talking on the phone, and still has an appetite. She never lost consciousness and still acts like herself and was never sleepy. Only thing is she seems to have sinus now. But the headboard was heavy, and still fell on her head. She also has high blood pressure and takes aspirin. Is she okay? We cannot visit a doctor until tomorrow unless emergency call. Thank you very much.

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (44 minutes later)

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

I can understand your concern for your mother but given the history of head injury a day before and the only presenting symptom of sinus drainage, it is very important to get your mother evaluated immediately and get a CT scan or MRI head done. We need to rule out CSF rhinorrhea.

What happens is that in a head injury, basilar skull fracture can result in a rupture of the barrier between the sinonasal cavity and the anterior cranial fossae or the middle cranial fossae.

This rupture can cause the nasal cavity to fill with cerebrospinal fluid. This condition, known as cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea or CSF rhinorrhea and the patient presents with clear, watery discharge from the nose, usually unilateral.

If your mother is having any sinus discharge, you need to get an immediate CT scan head for her.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jasvinder Singh (4 minutes later)

thank you for your reply, she is now planning on going to sleep, it is 9:30pm here, I do not know what action I need to take right now, as I do not drive, and the only was is by calling an ambulance which she will not let me do. it seems to only be sinus, caused by allergies or smoke, she is refusing for me to call for an ambulance, I don't know what to do, please advise

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (6 hours later)

Hello,

Thanks for writing back to me.

It is essential to get an evaluation done from a neurosurgeon and get a CT/ MRI of your mother done. You should take to your mother to the ER and get a CT Head done to rule out any CSF rhinorrhea.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jasvinder Singh (6 hours later)

Thank you for your help so far, she went to the ER last night, they gave her 2 panadeine forte and told her she can go home without CT. They did not mention she had XXXXXXX injury, but is this still possible? She seems to be okay, she is not complaining of any other symptoms. It has been nearly 24 hours now. Do I need to watch for anything else?

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (16 hours later)

Hello,

Thanks for writing back.

The treatment given is for sinus infection. Keep an eye on your mother's symptoms. If she develops any headaches, seizures, unconsiousness, dizziness, blurring of vision or drowsiness, then you should get it evaluated from a neurologist.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Please accept my answer in case you have no follow up query.

Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar