Traumatic Brain Injuries - Causes and Treatment

1. Traumatic Brain Injuries - Causes and Treatment If you know someone who has been involved in an accident that resulted in a head injury treatment, you should watch him or her carefully and be aware of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Regardless of the circumstances, any blow to the head is worth careful observation. Sometimes the full symptoms do not show up immediately, but will develop over a matter of time. If you notice some of the classic symptoms of this injury, you should make sure that the person seeks proper medical treatment. Mild and Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries There are two primary classifications of traumatic brain injuries. The first is known as "mild" because its symptoms are less serious and shorter in duration than others. A person with a mild TBI has either been unconscious or very confused after their head injury for less than 30 minutes total. All scans at a hospital would be normal and indicate no serious problems. Sometimes, because of this, people do not take mild brain injuries, such as concussions, seriously enough, but that should not be the case.

2. Even with a mild TBI, a person can continue to experience symptoms of traumatic brain injuries such as mood swings, attention deficit, forgetfulness, headaches and more. If this occurs, you should seek immediate medical attention as it could signal a larger problem. A severe traumatic brain injury is, of course, the most worrisome. A person with a severe TBI will have been unconscious for at least 30 minutes and, after waking up, be unable to clearly remember events or facts for more than one full 24-hour period. Sometimes a person with a severe injury is comatose for an extended period of time and some are never able to come out of such a state. Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries There are many ways that a person can sustain an injury. Some common examples include bicycle crashes with or without a helmet; sports injuries from baseball, soccer and football; motor vehicle accidents, which are extremely common for brain injuries; and slip and fall accidents including even the most mild falls which can have serious effects on the brain. This is by no means an exhaustive list, as a traumatic brain injury can result from any blow to the head. All such incidents should be properly cared for. This includes medical, emotional, financial and legal support. If the accident was the fault of another person or persons, ensuring proper compensation could be a very beneficial way of providing the right level of medical support and treatment. Understanding symptoms of traumatic brain injury will help you understand where you need to start to get the resources you need to recover. 1

3. Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury For individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (or TBI), treatment begins the minute they are in the presence of a medical professional-usually either an EMT worker or an Emergency Room doctor. While little can be done to reverse any initial damage caused by the injury, a head injury doctor in Coimbatore can work to prevent any further injury to the brain of the affected individual. The most important course of action is to make sure the individual is getting enough oxygen, as oxygen deprivation can result in further brain damage. Medical personnel will also work to ensure proper blood flow in the individual and to control his or her blood pressure. Reducing Intracranial Pressure Intracranial pressure can rise in patients with a traumatic brain injury, and so pressure levels are closely monitored. Possible ways to treat high intracranial pressure include straightening or raising the head of the individual to allow greater blood use of a sedative or paralytic agents use of hyperventilation, which decreases blood flow to the brain ● ● ● Seizure Prevention Seizures are common in individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury. As such, medical professionals will often use benzodiazepines to prevent seizures in TBI patients. However, these medications should be taken with caution as they can potentially depress breathing and dramatically lower blood pressure. 2

4. Surgery If a TBI patient has sustained contusions or hematomas as a result of his or her injury, these masses may need to be removed through surgery. A craniotomy (which is a removal of a portion of the skull) is necessary in approximately one third of patients with a severe traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation Individuals who are in the recovery stages of a traumatic brain injury will usually undergo different types of rehabilitation including physical therapy occupational therapy psychological treatment psychiatric treatment ● ● ● ● The purpose of any type of rehabilitation is to restore the patient's quality of life to what they experienced prior to their traumatic brain injury as much as possible. It is possible for individuals displaying prolonged psychiatric or behavioral problems to receive medication to help them return to their previous mental state. However, continuous psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment may be required. 3