Traumatic brain injuries are often the result of severe head trauma. The causes vary from car and workplace accidents to simple slips and falls. Unfortunately, this is often a chronic condition that requires lifelong care.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is an injury to the brain because of a:
- Bump
- Jolt
- Forceful blow
- Puncture of the skull
A TBI can also result from too many concussions or severe jolts to the body. These cause the brain to impact the skull, thereby injuring or bruising the brain.
How is a TBI treated?
The treatment of a TBI depends on the TBI itself. Treatment starts with identification. Doctors use several tests to determine if a TBI exists and how severe it is.
Mild TBI treatment is rest and over-the-counter pain medications. Doctors monitor the TBI to make certain it does not worsen.
Severe TBI treatment is much more complex. In these cases, the priority is to prevent death. They may use surgery to relieve pressure, remove dead tissues and repair fractures.
The doctors look for infection and blood clots when the patient is stable. Then a rehabilitation team takes over. Some people with a TBI must relearn everyday activities, while others need more long-term care.
What impacts TBI recovery?
Many things can impact whether a person recovers from a TBI. Some of these are:
- Age
- Genetics
- Rehabilitation
- Will to recover
The recovery process is usually a long and arduous one. Most people with severe traumatic brain injuries do not recover completely.
There is ongoing research to improve the outcome of traumatic brain injuries.
