Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused when physical trauma injures the brain. A TBI is also known as intracranial injury. Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability throughout the world, and is one of the leading causes of death among people under age 45. Vehicle accidents, falls, and violence are some of the major causes of TBI, and can result in anything from near-complete recovery to permanent disability or death. The damage caused can be either a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury, and may be focal, occurring in a specific location on the head, or may be diffuse, occurring over a larger area. Diffuse injuries include physical trauma such as concussions or the resulting injury from shaken baby syndrome.

There are three classifications for TBI: mild, moderate, or severe. The classification assigned to an injury depends on the extent of loss of consciousness, loss of memory, and a score on a neurological scale after the injury. Mild brain injury is trauma that temporarily alters the victim's mental status at the time of the injury, and recovery is extremely likely. Moderate brain injury also offers likely recovery, but there may be a need for ongoing treatment. This level of injury is usually accompanied by physical, cognitive, or behavioral impairments. With time and treatment, these impairments should be able to be overcome, resulting in recovery. A severe TBI can lead to long-term damage and may cause the patient to enter a coma for days, weeks, or months. It is possible that medications or emergency surgery may be required, and that some type of care will be needed for the rest of the victim's life.

After a TBI, the body may be in a state of abnormal consciousness. There are six of these abnormal states of consciousness, including stupor, coma, persistent vegetative state, minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome, and brain death.

-A stupor is a state of unresponsiveness, but a person in this state can be aroused briefly by a strong stimulus, such as sharp pain.

-A coma is a similar unresponsive state, but the patient is totally unconscious, unaware, and unarousable.

-A persistent vegetative state brings unconsciousness and unawareness, but a patient will continue to have a sleep-wake cycle and can be alert for short periods.

-Patients in a minimally conscious state may appear to be in a persistent vegetative state, but are able to actively process information. The patient can exhibit deliberate behavior often and consistently enough to distinguish him or her from the reflexive responses see in a persistent vegetative state.

-A patient with locked-in syndrome is aware and awake of his/her surroundings, but is not able to communicate or move due to complete paralysis. Voluntary control of eye movements or blinking is the most common way that these patients are able to show their awareness. Communication is also possible with these movements.

-Brain death is the lack of an irreversible effect of TBI. Brain function is lost, most often due to diffuse brain damage. If any assistance devices are being used, removal results in the cessation of breathing and immediate cardiac arrest.

Traumatic brain injury can cause a number of physical, cognitive, emotion, and social effects. In short, it can be life changing. Physical, speech, and occupational therapy may be needed for recover from more sever cases. The best method for treating TBI is simply prevention. Safety laws such as speed limits, seat belt laws, and helmet laws can prevent a large number of TBI cases if the laws are followed. Other practical changes include reducing alcohol abuse and increasing the use of protective headgear during sports. Public education is one of the most important tools in helping prevent traumatic brain injury. Not every case can be prevented, but following safety laws and practicing safe lifestyle habits can definitely reduce the number of TBI cases.

The information you obtain from this article is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.