What type of brain injury occurs when forces applied to the head cause injury on the opposite side of the original impact?

Coup-contrecoup brain injury is characterized by damage occurring not only at the site of the initial impact (the coup injury) but also on the opposite side of the brain (the contrecoup injury). This type of injury happens when the brain moves within the skull due to rapid deceleration or acceleration forces, causing it to hit the inside of the skull at both points of impact.

When a force is applied to the head, the brain can shift and collide with the bony surface of the skull on the side opposite the impact. This leads to bruising and potential tearing of brain tissue and blood vessels on both sides, which can result in severe neurological consequences. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for assessing brain injuries, as it can explain the symptoms a patient may display based on the areas affected.

The other options represent different types of brain injuries or conditions. While contusions can occur at the site of impact and subdural hematomas involve bleeding typically due to a torn vein after acceleration-deceleration trauma, and concussions refer to functional disturbances rather than structural damage, none encapsulate the specific dual impact mechanism represented by coup-contrecoup injuries.