As per recent CDC reports, car accidents are the primary cause of traumatic brain injuries. During car accidents, traumatic brain injuries could be due to a blow to your head, violent shaking of the head, or when the brain suddenly strikes against your skull.
Fortunately, the cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid cushions the brain minimizing the effect of sudden car jerks or blunt trauma. However, at low speed, there is still a risk of developing severe TBI.
You will have TBI if a given object penetrates your skull, damaging the brain tissues. TBI can be severe, moderate, or mild based on the extent of damage to the brain. Severe traumatic brain injury may cause permanent damage to your brain.
Classification
Classification of TBI as severe, moderate, or mild relies on the duration the individual will lose consciousness, brain scanning result, and the presence of post-traumatic amnesia.
1. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
In mild TBI, the individual may lose consciousness briefly or fail to lose consciousness. Additionally, brain scans may reveal minimal or no damage to the brain tissue. The imaging will appear normal in mild traumatic brain injury.
2. Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
In moderate TBI, you will be unconscious. The period one is unconscious will range from one hour to a full day. After the occurrence of TBI, post-traumatic amnesia also lasts for about one to 24 hours. Brain scanning will reveal some minor abnormalities.
3. Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
In severe traumatic brain injury, the patient will remain unconscious for over 24 hours. The victim will be in a coma with PTA lasting for more than one day after the occurrence of the traumatic brain injury. Brain scanning will reveal severe abnormalities in your brain that can be long-term.
Types Of Brain Injuries
Injuries to the brain can alter your life permanently. The injuries result in suffering, pain, absenteeism from work, and expenses such as hefty medical bills. Hence, it is crucial to understand the various forms of injuries you may sustain. Car related injuries include:
1. Whiplash
Even though whiplash isn’t directly related to TBI, it may be a risk factor for brain injuries. Whiplash related symptoms include:
- Cognitive difficulties.
- Numbness in your upper extremities.
- Neck pain.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness and headache.
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above after surviving a motor vehicle accident, promptly contact your physician for medical assistance.
2. Concussion
It refers to a mild TBI. After surviving a car accident, please note the following symptoms since they can reveal an underlying concussion. Concussion is associated with:
- Fatigue.
- Slurred speech.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Memory loss.
- Confusion.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Headaches.
Concussion is referred to as a mild TBI because it is not life-threatening. However, it would help if you took the symptoms seriously because the complications may be fatal. After experiencing a concussion, you should:
- Frequently update your physician on any changes and pay close attention to the symptoms.
- Take a lot of rest.
- Adhere to your physician’s recommendations.
3. Contusion
It’s a bruise in a given region of the brain resulting from an impact on the brain. It can either be contrecoup or coup. Contrecoup injuries transpire on the opposite side of the effect, while coup injuries occur directly below the impact region.
4. Hematoma
Hematoma will result when blood clots within your brain. It can occur in any region within your brain. You may experience epidural hematoma when the clot forms between your skull’s interior part and dura mater. On the other hand, subdural hematoma refers to blood accumulation between the arachnoid layer and the dura mater.
Diagnosis
If you experience TBI, seek medical help immediately. The physicians may employ strategies to reverse the brain damage. Additionally, the physicians will focus on stabilizing you and inhibiting further damage. The physician will begin by assessing your pulmonary and cardiac function before proceeding to a whole-body examination. During the neurological examination, your physician will employ Glasgow Coma Scale.
To detect severe TBI, take note of the following symptoms:
- Slurred speech.
- Extreme confusion.
- Lack of coordination.
- Inability to get up from sleep.
- A clear fluid in your ears or nose.
Other symptoms related to severe traumatic brain injury are pupillary dilation, seizures, convulsions, and coma.
Treatment.
1. Surgery
In case you have severe or moderate TBI, you will head directly into the theatre rooms. The surgical procedures aim at removing the hematoma or contusion that is compressing your brain. You can also get admission into the intensive care units before accessing the operation rooms. Your physician may not recommend immediate surgical procedures because contusions could enlarge within the first few hours of injury.
TBI is a medical emergency. The severe damages associated with TBI will drastically interfere with your life. Even after successful treatment of traumatic brain injury, there is a possibility of long-term damage that needs medications and therapy to manage the symptoms.
Bear in mind that surgical procedures in treating TBI may require a recovery time of several months. Ensure to make arrangements with your employer so that you can get ample recovery time. Some severe TBI may result in cognitive disability, rendering you unfit to proceed with your occupation.
Rehabilitation
The result of severe traumatic brain injury is severe pain, suffering, anxiety, and the development of depression. At times, prolonged hospitalization may require the complement of inpatient rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation programs imply a further cost in your recovery. Rehabilitation is useful if you are showing massive improvement in cognitive abilities. Inpatient set up is the best in case you have a slow recovery. The clinicians will closely monitor your respiratory status, skin integrity, and any difficulty in joint mobility.
Rehabilitation will ensure you get comprehensive treatment and full recovery. The various therapies provide that you heal both physically and mentally. Your brain’s cognitive ability may get restored by repetitions of particular simple tasks.