A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow to the head that results in brain damage. This includes everything from mild concussions to severe brain injury and damage. Depending on the severity of the injury, the physicians treating you will make recommendations from rest to surgery. Unfortunately, brain injury victims have a lifelong battle of deficits and problems. This includes both physical and mental issues. In Arizona, there are over 66,000 traumatic brain injuries per year. This includes over 56,000 hospital visits, and far too many deaths. With Phoenix and Tucson continuing to grow, the numbers of traumatic brain injuries will continue to rise.
Generally speaking, there are two types of traumatic brain injuries: Primary and Secondary. This blog focuses on primary brain injuries.
What is a “Primary” Brain Injury?
According to Stanford Medicine, a primary brain injury refers to “the sudden and profound injury to the brain that is considered to be more or less complete at the time of impact.” These injuries are most often due to car accidents, assaults, or falls. The most common injuries sustained from primary brain injury include:
- Concussion
A concussion is an injury to the head that can result in loss of consciousness. That being said, it does not always result in loss of consciousness. Concussions are diffuse injuries, meaning they are spread over a large area of the brain. Because of this, they cannot be isolated to a specific location. Most often, a concussion will present as an overall decrease in consciousness.
- Contusion
A contusion is a bruise. If the impact to the head is significant enough, it can cause a bruise in the tissue of the brain. This is often referred to as a “coup or countra-coup injury.” In coup injuries, the brain is directly injured by an external force. In contra-coup injuries, the opposite side of the brain is injured. This means that if the left side of the head is hit, the right side of the brain is injured. Unlike concussions, contusions are focal injuries. Depending on where in the brain the injury is, the brain injury victim’s signs and symptoms will differ.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury
Axons connect nerve cells throughout the brain. In car accidents, for example, the brain’s transmission of signals can be disrupted. This can then result in the victim not being alert or awake. Ischemic injuries are also included in this. Ischemia means lack of oxygen to the tissue. Ischemia often results in brain injuries. Moreover, for patients with traumatic brain injuries, ischemia is even more detrimental.
- Hematoma
A head injury can result in bleeding in the brain. When we bleed, our body’s natural response is to clot the blood so we do not bleed out and die. A hematoma is a blood clot. If the hematoma in the brain is too large, it can push on or compress the brain. Depending on where the hematoma is located, it’s name changes: Subdural, epidural, intracerebral, etc. Sometimes our body is able to absorb the hematoma. If we cannot absorb it, however, surgery is needed to remove the clot and to alleviate the pressure.
- Second Impact Syndrome
- Skull Fracture
- Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Edema (bruising)
What is the treatment for a primary brain injury?
Since a brain injury can be a devastating outcome, timely treatment is important. This will likely include imaging, consultation with a surgeon, and intervention to treat the bleed or damage. Even if you receive timely treatment, the effects of a brain injury are typically life-long. This includes millions of dollars in continued care and further intervention. Brain injuries also disrupt lives and prevent victims from working or interacting with friends and family. Regardless of the cause, a brain injury must be taken very seriously.
If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury due to a car crash, trucking crash, medical malpractice, birth injury, or assault, contact us today for a free consultation.
