Head injury

Head injury is common, and clinical presentations vary in severity and underlying pathology. Most patients can be safely managed in primary care. Clinicians working in the community should be able to differentiate between patients who can be reassured with appropriate safety-netting advice, and those who require urgent transfer to the emergency department for further assessment. This article covers the assessment and management of head injuries in adults and children including safeguarding, criteria for onward referral, and post-head injury advice.