Cerebral contusions and lacerations

[Rihanna]

Cerebral contusions are bruises of the brain, usually caused by a direct, strong blow to the head. Cerebral lacerations are tears in brain tissue, caused by a foreign object or pushed-in bone fragment from a skull fracture.

Motor vehicle crashes and blows to the head are common causes of bruises and tears of brain tissue.
Symptoms of mild or severe head injury develop.
Computed tomography is done.
The person is observed in the hospital and sometimes needs surgery.

Cerebral contusions and lacerations involve structural brain damage and thus are more serious than concussions, which are an alteration in mental function or level of awareness caused by an injury that does not cause visible damage to brain structures.
Contusions may be caused by the sudden fast movement (acceleration) of the brain against the skull after a jolt—as may be delivered by a forceful blow to the head—or by the sudden stopping (deceleration) that occurs when a moving head strikes an immovable object (as when a person