Which injury is often accompanied by edema and signs of concussion and includes symptoms such as decreasing mental status, unresponsiveness, pupillary changes, or changes in vital signs?

• A. Cerebral contusion
• B. Epidural hematoma
• C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• D. Subdural hematoma

Answer: (A)

Edema from a brain contusion causes swelling around the bruised tissue, which can progressively impair brain function. When the injury bruises brain tissue, the resulting swelling and disruption of neural tissue can lead to decreasing mental status, periods of unresponsiveness, and changes in pupil size or vital signs as intracranial pressure rises and brainstem regulation is affected. This combination of local swelling with concussion-like symptoms and potential deterioration is characteristic of a cerebral contusion.

Other injuries describe different patterns: an epidural hematoma often features a lucid interval after initially losing consciousness, followed by rapid deterioration due to a growing arterial bleed; a subdural hematoma typically has a slower, more gradual onset from venous bleeding; a subarachnoid hemorrhage presents with a sudden, severe headache and meningeal signs rather than focal edema-related brain swelling.