Traumatic Brain Injury
A blow or jolt
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A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Although not all blows to the head result in a TBI, the severity of such an injury ranges from a brief change in mental status or consciousness to an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 2.5 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year in the United States. Of these, 50,000 will die, 280,000 will require hospitalization and 1.1 million will be treated and released from an emergency department. Every day, 137 people in the United States die due to a TBI-related injury, the majority of them due to a fall. Traumatic brain injuries can disrupt the way the brain sends out messages to the rest of the body, affecting behavior, speech, sensation and movement. However, many people recover from these types of injuries and have no lasting effects.
Mild to severe
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The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. A person with a mild TBI may remain conscious or may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Other symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking. A person with a moderate or severe TBI may show these same symptoms, but may also have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
Concussion
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March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, a month designated to make the public more conscious of the dangers associated with these injuries. One of the most serious forms of brain injury is a concussion, a common occurrence in contact sports. One in five high school athletes will sustain a concussion during the sports season. Unlike some brain injuries, you cannot see a concussion, but you might notice some of the symptoms right away. Other symptoms can show up days or weeks after the injury. Some of the signs of a possible concussion include nausea, dizziness, double vision, a headache or sensitivity to light or noise. A person with a concussion may feel sluggish or tired and have trouble concentrating or remembering certain things. It is best to see a health care professional if you think you might have a concussion. An undiagnosed concussion can affect your abilities at school or work and in everyday activities.
Proper oxygen supply
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Anyone with signs of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Because little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by trauma, medical personnel try to stabilize an individual with TBI and focus on preventing further injury. The primary concerns include insuring proper oxygen supply to the brain and the rest of the body, maintaining adequate blood flow, and controlling blood pressure. Imaging tests help in determining the diagnosis and prognosis of a TBI patient. Patients with mild to moderate injuries may receive skull and neck X-rays to check for bone fractures or spinal instability. For moderate to severe cases, a computed tomography, or CT, scan will likely be ordered. Moderately to severely injured patients receive rehabilitation that involves individually tailored treatment programs in the areas of physical therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology or psychiatry, and social support.
Wear a seat belt
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There are a number of ways to prevent traumatic brain injuries, the majority of which are caused by falls and motor-vehicle accidents. First and foremost, always wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle and buckle your child in the car using either a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt, depending on the child’s height, weight, and age. Wear a helmet and making sure your children wear one when riding a bike, motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle. A helmet should also be mandatory when playing a contact sport, using in-line skates or riding a skateboard, batting and running bases in baseball or softball, or when skiing or snowboarding. To make living areas safer for seniors, remove tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways and use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. As for children, make the surface on your child’s playground is made of shock-absorbing material, such as hardwood mulch or sand.
Trusted by thousands of listeners every week, T. Glenn Pait, M.D., began offering expert advice as the host of UAMS’ “Here’s to Your Health” program in 1996. Dr. Pait began working at UAMS in 1994 and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years.