Head Injury
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden
physical assault on the head causes damage to the brain. The
damage can be focal, confined to one area of the brain, or diffuse,
involving more than one area of the brain. TBI can result from
a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. A closed head
injury occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object,
but the object does not break through the skull. A penetrating
head
injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters the
brain
tissue. Several types of traumatic injuries can affect the head
and
brain. A skull fracture occurs when the bone of the skull cracks
or breaks. A depressed skull fracture occurs when pieces of the
broken
skull press into the tissue of the brain. This can cause bruising
of the brain tissue, called a contusion. A contusion can also
occur in
response to shaking of the brain within the confines of the skull,
an injury called "countrecoup." Shaken baby syndrome is a severe
form of head injury that occurs when a baby is shaken forcibly
enough to cause extreme countrecoup injury. Damage to a major
blood vessel within the head can cause a hematoma, or heavy bleeding
into
or around the brain. The severity of a TBI can range from a mild
concussion to the extremes of coma or even death. A coma is a
profound or deep state of unconsciousness. Symptoms of a TBI
may
include headache, nausea, confusion or other cognitive problems,
a
change in personality, depression, irritability, and other emotional
and behavioral problems. Some people may have seizures as a result
of a TBI.
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Immediate treatment for TBI involves surgery to
control bleeding in and around the brain, monitoring and controlling
intracranial pressure, insuring adequate blood flow to the brain,
and treating the body for other injuries and infection.
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The outcome of TBI depends on the cause of the
injury and on the location, severity, and extent of neurological
damage: outcomes range from good recovery to death. Doctors often
use the Glasgow Coma Scale to rate the extent of injury and chances
of recovery. The scale (3-15) involves testing for three patient
responses: eye opening, best verbal response, and best motor
response. A high score indicates a good prognosis and a low score
indicates a poor prognosis.
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Acoustic Neuroma Association
Brain Injury Association
Brain Trauma Foundation
Family Caregiver Alliance
National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)
National Stroke Association
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDRR)
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