Final answer:
Most concern should be about an epidural hematoma, a potentially life-threatening condition where blood accumulates between the skull and the brain, often caused by a fracture damaging an artery underneath the pterion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your patient who was struck in the head with a baseball and experienced a brief loss of consciousness should be most concerned about an epidural hematoma. An epidural hematoma occurs when a blow to the head, such as from a baseball, causes a fracture of the skull bones near important arteries. One such region is the pterion, where a major branch of an artery lies just beneath the surface. If a fracture damages this artery, it can lead to a hematoma, as the blood accumulates between the brain and the interior of the skull.
This condition can be life-threatening, leading to increased intracranial pressure and possibly death if not promptly treated. The symptoms may not be immediately apparent and can worsen over time, emphasizing the need for urgent medical attention following a head injury.