Look Who it Was Random video

Closed Head Injuries

2,375 views · Published 9 November 2014 · 1:38 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

Watch on YouTube

Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability in this country. The CDC reports that 138 people in the U.S. die every day from an injury that involves one. The combination of speed and force often causes catastrophic damage. 

“There is a little bit of space in there, but the brain basically comes to an abrupt stop up against the skull,” explains Lee Memorial Health System neurosurgeon Dean Lin.

When you break it down- falls are the leading cause of traumatic head injury- in particular in children and older adults. But it’s accidents- car versus car, versus bike, versus motorcycle or pedestrian that claims the most lives in people under age 24.

“The skull remains a hard, solid cave. It’s not expanding anywhere, so those are the patients that need to go to surgery frequently and have some of the skull removed. And then sometimes that will save them,” says Dr. Lin.

Removing a section of skull gives the brain room to expand and hopefully lowers pressure within. Other than monitoring and looking out for blood clots, there is no ‘miracle treatment’. The biggest impact on this type of injury- is prevention.

Wearing a seatbelt has a huge impact in surviving a crash. Removing hazards in the home can prevent accidental falls. Key in avoiding sports-related head injuries: do not dive in water less than 12 feet deep. Finally, athletes should always play it safe- by wearing the proper protective head gear.

“They need to understand how potentially catastrophic the consequences could be,” says Dr. Lin.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit leememorial.org

More from this channel