What type of injury can lead to swelling and pressure within the skull?

Increased intracranial pressure refers to a condition where the pressure inside the skull rises above normal levels, which can occur due to various factors, including trauma, bleeding, or swelling of the brain. This elevated pressure can lead to a range of serious complications, including reduced blood flow to the brain, cell injury, and potential brain herniation.

When there is swelling or bleeding within the cranial cavity, it can occupy space and increase the pressure, putting a strain on brain tissues and blood vessels. This can cause profound neurological deficits and requires immediate medical attention to relieve that pressure effectively.

In contrast, although concussions and cerebral hemorrhages can result in symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure, they are not directly defined as the condition of having elevated pressure itself; they represent either a type of brain injury or a specific occurrence of bleeding that might lead to increased pressure. Cranial fractures could also be involved in the mechanism of injury that leads to increased intracranial pressure, but they do not inherently cause pressure buildup without subsequent complications like bleeding or swelling. Therefore, identifying increased intracranial pressure specifically captures the essence of the condition being described in this context.