About this topic
Traumatic brain injury is also known as TBI. It is any kind of injury to the brain. TBI may be mild or very bad. This injury disrupts the normal work of the brain. All TBIs cause swelling, bleeding, and pressure on the brain. A small amount of swelling or bleeding will cause a mild TBI. More swelling or bleeding will cause a more serious TBI. The location of the injury can help the doctors know what signs to watch for. ‚
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What are the causes?
TBI can happen with a closed or open head injury. A closed head injury means the skull was not broken open. With an open head injury, something has hit the skull and the brain is exposed. The object may have entered the brain. TBIs may be caused by: ‚
- Falls
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Getting hit by an object that may or may not be moving
- Being attacked with a hard object or a gunshot wound to the head
What are the main signs?
Signs of a TBI can be mild to very bad. They will depend on how much harm there is to the brain. In mild cases, people may not think clearly or be awake and alert for a short time. Very bad cases may result in long-term change in mental state. People may not be awake or respond to commands. Some very bad cases result in coma, or even death. ‚
Other signs are: ‚
- Headache
- Throwing up
- Changes in size of pupils (the black part of your eye) or pupils are not the same size
- Seizures
- Feeling dizzy
- Bloody fluid draining from the nose, mouth, or ears
- Broken bones in the skull or face
- Problems seeing, hearing, tasting, or smelling
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will do an exam. The doctor will test the pupils of your eyes and your level of awareness. Your doctor may order: ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Your care will depend on how severe the brain injury is. A mild TBI may be treated with rest and drugs to ease pain or headache. Very bad TBIs need extra care, which may include surgery. The doctor may do surgery to remove blood clots, stop bleeding in your brain, or fix skull fractures. Sometimes, surgery helps to lower pressure on the brain. The goal is to make sure that the oxygen and blood supply to the brain is good. Swelling must be limited. This may help prevent more injury to the brain. You may also be given drugs to help ease your signs. ‚
For a very bad TBI, doctors may give you drugs to make you sleep. This lets your brain rest for healing. You may need a breathing tube to help you breathe until your brain swelling goes down. You may need a feeding tube until you are able to eat a normal diet. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Lower pressure inside the brain
- Treat or prevent seizures
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
Will there be any other care needed?
After your brain injury is healing, you may need to have rehab care. This may help you to relearn some basic skills, such as walking or talking. This is to help your ability to do things at home and in all parts of your life. ‚
What problems could happen?
- You may feel fine within a few hours after the head injury. You may still have brain damage even if you did not lose consciousness. It may take weeks for signs of brain damage to happen. If you get confused, are shaky or worried, go to the ER or call your doctor.
- A brain injury may cause changes in a persons way of life. These changes may include a different level of consciousness, being unaware of surroundings, and not able to respond to things around you. Other changes may include:
- Damage to the brain. This may lead to changes in mental, physical, and emotional behavior. These changes may last for a short time or may last forever.
- Trouble with memory, learning, or judgment
- Problems in communicating that could lead to frustrations, conflicts, and more injuries
- Changes in actions and feelings that cause anger or low mood most of the time
- Problems with hearing, smelling, or eyesight
- Seizures
- Higher chance for other brain diseases, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do not drive when you are taking drugs for pain or drugs that cause you to be sleepy. Do not drink alcohol and drive. Do not drive when you are tired.
- Always wear a seatbelt when you drive or ride in a car.
- Wear proper protective equipment when you play sports.
- Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, or when skiing or snowboarding or doing other similar activity.
- Stay away from risky activities that may cause falls.
- Wear hard hats and protective gear if you work in construction or other dangerous jobs or if you work on ladders or in high places.
- Keep guns stored unloaded and locked inside a cabinet or safe.
Where can I learn more?
Center for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/index.html ‚
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ‚
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm#Is_there_any_treatment ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚