Essentials Facts About Traumatic Brain Injury

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TBI is a broad term that refers to a variety of brain injuries. Localized (limited to a specific section of the brain) or diffuse (affecting the entire brain) damage is possible (happens in more than one area of the brain).

A brain injury can range in severity from a minor concussion to a severe injury resulting in coma or death. In this article, we learn about the essential facts of TBI.

Traumatic Brain Injury Types

Brain injury may be a result of one of two ways:

Closed TBI

When there is a nonpenetrating brain injury but no break in the skull, a closed TBI occurs. The bruising and ripping of brain tissue and blood arteries causes a closed brain injury due to a rapid forward or backward movement and shaking of the brain inside the bone skull. 

Car accidents, falls, and sports are the most common causes of closed brain injuries. This type of injury can also be caused by shaking a newborn (shaken baby syndrome).

Penetrating Brain Injury

Penetrating or open head injuries happen when a crack in the skull forms, such as when a gunshot pierces the brain.

The list of traumatic brain injury types is extensive. However, the two ways mentioned above are the most common ones.

Primary and Secondary Brain Injury

The term "primary brain injury" refers to a sudden and severe brain injury that is more or less complete at the time of impact. It occurs after a car accident, a gunshot wound, or a fall.

Secondary brain damage refers to the changes that develop hours to days after a primary brain injury. It describes a series of biochemical, chemical, tissue, or blood vessel changes in the brain that contribute to the loss of additional brain tissue.

What Causes Internal Damage to the Brain?

A mechanism known as coup-contrecoup produces bruising of the brain, damage to internal tissue and blood vessels when a direct hit to the head occurs. A bruise generated by trauma at the impact site is a coup lesion.

When the brain gets shaken against the sides of the skull, shearing (tearing) of the internal lining, tissues, and blood vessels can result in internal bleeding, swelling, or bruises.

Possible Results of Brain Injury

The following are some of the possible consequences of a brain injury:

Cognitive deficits

• Coma

• Confusion

• Shortened attention span

• Problem-solving deficits

• Problems with judgment

• Inability to understand abstract concepts

• Loss of sense of time and space

• Decreased awareness of self and others

Motor deficits

• Paralysis or weakness

• Spasticity (tightening and shortening of the muscles)

• Poor balance

• Decreased endurance

• Delays in getting started

• Tremors

• Swallowing problems

• Poor coordination

Regulatory disturbances 

• Fatigue

• Changes in sleep patterns and eating habits

• Headache

• Loss of bowel and bladder control

Personality or psychiatric changes

• Apathy

• Decreased motivation

• Irritability

• Anxiety and depression

Does Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Work?

The majority of studies imply that brain cells do not recover once destroyed or injured. However, it is possible to recover from a brain injury, especially in younger people, as other brain parts can compensate for the injured tissue in some situations. Each brain injury is unique, as is the recovery.

TBI Rehabilitation Program

The patient with brain injury begins rehabilitation during the acute therapy period. A more intense rehabilitation program generally gets initiated as the patient’s condition improves. The following are some of the factors that determine rehabilitation success:

• Nature and severity of the brain injury

• The overall health of the patient

• Family support

It's critical to improve the patient's abilities at home and in the community. Positive reinforcement promotes independence and enhances self-esteem, which aids healing.

Brain injury rehabilitation aims to help patients restore full function and independence while improving their whole quality of life—physically, emotionally, and socially.

To Conclude:

Traumatic brain injury can be minor, and symptoms fade away with proper care. But some brain injuries can be more severe and can lead to long-term impairment. Brain damage can have long-term or permanent consequences that may necessitate post-injury and possibly lifelong rehabilitation.

If you wish to get in touch and learn more about TBI, visit Advantage Healthcare system. You can gain helpful insight into health and wellbeing during TBI.