Which type of gastric ulcer is typically linked to head injuries?

The link between gastric ulcers and head injuries is most commonly associated with Cushing ulcers. These ulcers are characterized by their development in response to increased intracranial pressure, which can occur due to brain injury, tumors, or other central nervous system disorders. The mechanism involves stimulation of the vagus nerve due to the traumatic event or pressure on the brain, leading to increased gastric acid secretion.

Cushing ulcers can appear in critically ill patients, especially those who have suffered head trauma, making them a specific type of stress ulcer that arises under such conditions. The key feature that differentiates Cushing ulcers from other types like burn ulcers or Curling ulcers is this direct correlation with head injuries and the resulting neurogenic factors influencing gastric physiology.

In contrast, burn ulcers occur primarily due to severe burns and are associated with local stress factors, while Curling's ulcers relate to significant thermal injury but are not directly tied to head trauma. Peptic ulcers, on the other hand, can arise from various factors, including H. pylori infection and chronic use of NSAIDs, but do not specifically associate with head injuries.

This context underscores why Cushing ulcers are distinctly recognized as being linked to head trauma, illustrating the direct physiological pathway from injury to ulceration