Head and neck injuries.

A survey of cranial, intracranial and neck injuries caused by blunt trauma to the head is presented. The different types of fractures to the skull (impression fractures, linear fractures and ring fractures) are discussed as well as the injury mechanisms. Brain injuries are discussed under the heading of focal brain injury (i.e. brain laceration, cortical contusion, hemorrhages of the meninges and traumatic intracerebral hemorrhages). The different types of neck injuries, including atlanto-occipital dislocation, are listed and the stability of the different fractures are discussed. Facial injury is not included.