Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sudden brain damage caused by penetration of brain tissue, a violent shake of the head, or a blow to the head. Traumatic brain injury can cause long-term, severe problems with thinking, memory, emotions, and personality. Traumatic brain injury can also cause severe complications including coma, paralysis, and death.
Open and Closed Head Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury is caused by either open head injury or closed head injury. Open head injury occurs when the skull has been fractured; closed head injury occurs when the skull has not been fractured. Either type of head injury can cause severe brain damage.
Traumatic brain injury brain damage is either focal or diffuse. Focal brain damage is brain occurs in a specific area of the brain, such as the location where an object, like a bullet, penetrates brain tissue.
Diffuse brain damage occurs throughout several areas of the brain. Diffuse brain damage occurs when the brain collides with the inside of the boney skull, and nerve fibers and brain tissue are sheared and destroyed.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
- Headache / migraine
- Nausea / vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Dilated pupils
- Paralysis
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Labored breathing
- Insomnia
- Confusion
Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment
Traumatic brain injury treatment begins when a head trauma victim arrives at a hospital emergency room. Doctors stabilize a brain injury victim's vital signs (pulse, breathing, blood pressure) and treat open wounds or skull fractures. Doctors then perform neurological evaluation to evaluate the extent of brain injury. During neurological evaluation, doctors use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT ) scans, and other x-rays and tests to identify any unapparent brain or head injuries such as bleeding or skull fractures.
In addition to x-rays and other brain scans, doctors use the Glasgow Coma Scale or the Rancho Los Amigos Scale to evaluate a person's level of consciousness. A person's level of consciousness helps identify the severity of brain injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury Complications
Traumatic brain injury victims may have long term complications. Traumatic brain injury complications can be mild and subtle, or severe and life-threatening.
Mild (Concussion) Traumatic Brain Injury Complications
- Headache / migraine
- Memory Loss
- Emotional problems
- Insomnia
Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Complications
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Immobility
- Loss of bowel control
- Memory loss
- Intracranial bleeding (hematoma)
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Brain swelling
- Infection
- Emotional Problems
- Personality change
- Changes in vision, hearing, taste, and/or smell
- Coma
For more comprehensive information about traumatic brain injury, visit AllAboutTBI.com.