Page "Mail (armour)" Paragraph 35

The flexibility of mail meant that a blow would often injure the wearer, potentially causing serious bruising or fractures, and it was a poor defence against head trauma.

Mail-clad warriors typically wore separate rigid helms over their mail coifs for head protection.

Likewise, blunt weapons such as maces and warhammers could harm the wearer by their impact without penetrating the armour ; usually a soft armour, such as gambeson, was worn under the hauberk.

Medieval surgeons were very well capable of setting and caring for bone fractures resulting from blunt weapons.

With the poor understanding of hygiene however, cuts that could get infected were much more of a problem.

Thus mail armour proved to be sufficient protection in most situations.