What is a 'contrecoup' injury?

A 'contrecoup' injury refers specifically to a brain injury that occurs on the opposite side of the initial impact. This type of injury typically arises from a strong force that causes the brain to move within the skull. When the head is struck, the brain may collide with the side of the skull opposite to the point of impact, resulting in damage to that area.

For example, if a person receives a blow to the forehead, the contrecoup injury would involve bruising or tearing of brain tissue at the back of the head, even though the impact occurred at the front. This phenomenon is critical to understand because it underscores the importance of recognizing that damage can occur not just where the force was applied, but also where the brain rebounds against the inner surface of the skull.

Other choices address different types of injuries that do not involve the unique mechanism of contrecoup injuries. For example, a spinal injury from a fall pertains to the vertebral or spinal cord structure, while a minor concussion is typically associated with symptoms from a more localized impact, and chronic injuries develop over time from repeated trauma rather than from a specific incident.