Traumatic brain injury

Trust Advocate Health Care’s team expert neurologists for proper diagnosis and treatment for a traumatic brain injury. We provide the most up-to-date testing methods and the latest treatment options to help you recover from a brain injury.

Seeing stars after hitting your head is common. However, serious symptoms that may not be visible right away are a cause for concern and could indicate a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is a serious matter and requires immediate medical attention.

If you suddenly feel less coordinated, are having difficulty remembering simple things or thinking clearly, or friends or family say you’re not acting the same, you should see your doctor.

Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury

Recognizing symptoms of a traumatic brain injury is essential to getting proper treatment and minimizing long-term complications.

While symptoms vary, some common symptoms of a TBI include:

• Cognitive: Confusion, speech difficulties, memory problems, difficulty thinking clearly and trouble concentrating
• Emotional: Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, mood swings and irritability
• Physical: Blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, balance and coordination problems and seizures

Types of brain injuries

A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain that occurs from trauma to the head, such as a bump or blow, that causes damage to the brain.

TBIs can range in severity from mild to severe and are often classified into one of two groups based on the impact on physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning.

The two groups are open (penetrating) injuries or closed injuries. Within these two groups, there are several types of traumatic brain injuries, including:

• Brain hemorrhage: This is uncontrolled bleeding on the surface of the brain.
• Concussions: This is the most common type of TBI and happens when the brain collides with the skull due to impact.
• Contusions: These often happen with a concussion. A contusion is bruising on the brain.
• Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): This is one of the most severe types of TBI. This injury occurs when the brain is shaken or twisted inside the skull.
• Penetrating brain injury: This is an injury when an object penetrates the skull and brain.
• Second impact syndrome: This is known as a recurrent TBI and occurs when you suffer a second traumatic brain injury. This type of brain injury is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

Diagnosing a traumatic brain injury

Your Advocate neuro specialist will use the Glasgow Coma Scale, which is a 15-point screening that helps your care team assess the severity of your injury. It provides an objective way to check a person’s consciousness.

After a head injury, your doctor will order a CT scan or MRI depending on the seriousness of your condition. These imaging tests provide great insight on the severity of your traumatic brain injury.

CT scans are often used in emergency cases and will show fractures, bleeding, bruising, swelling or blood clots.

MRIs are used in non-emergency situations or after your condition has stabilized. Doctors may also check for swelling by assessing pressure in your skull.

Treatment options for a traumatic brain injury

Mild brain injuries are typically treated with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers to ease your headaches. You should have friends or family members regularly check on you to make sure your symptoms are not getting worse.

Moderate and severe brain injuries usually require intensive care. Your doctors will monitor you and may prescribe medications to limit additional brain damage.

If you have severe brain damage, you could need emergency surgery. It can take time to fully heal from these types of brain injuries, but brain rehabilitation therapy such as physical, speech or occupational therapy may help limit long-term symptoms.

Preventing a traumatic brain injury

You cannot fully eliminate the risk of a traumatic brain injury, but you can take several safety precautions to reduce your chances of having a TBI happen to you.

Some preventive measures include:

• Installing grab bars and removing tripping hazards at home, especially if there are children or older adults in the home.
• Using non-slip mats in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Improving lighting in stairwells and walkways.
• Wearing appropriate helmets and protective gear for any activity that carries a risk of head injury, such as cycling, skating, skiing, skateboarding and contact sports.
• Using recommended head protection while working in environments with falling objects or other head injury risks.
• Buckling up every time you drive or ride in a vehicle.
• Not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.