Traumatic brain injuries are more common than many people realize. Residents of Louisiana who are stricken by these injuries can find their lives suddenly, dramatically changed. It’s important to know how these brain injuries are caused.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injuries most often occur as a result of a violent blow to the head. They can also happen if a person is suddenly jolted forward and back or when an object penetrates the skull. These injuries can range in severity from mild to severe and temporary to permanent.
What are the different types of traumatic brain injuries?
There are different types of brain injuries depending on the severity. A concussion is one of the most common mild types. It can result in unconsciousness that doesn’t last very long and is usually not a permanent traumatic brain injury.
Contusions are bruises on a certain part of the brain where an impact was made during the accident. It’s the type of injury that affects the brain under the point of impact.
A diffuse axonal injury is a type of TBI that occurs when the brain is quickly shifted back and forth within the skull. The axons, which connect nerve cells in the brain, suffer damage as a result of this injury. It can result in disruption of normal brain function and cause sleep and wake issues.
One of the most serious brain injuries is traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, which causes bleeding around the brain. This injury happens when arteries within the brain tear upon impact from an accident, causing bleeding.
Hematoma is a serious brain injury that results in a blood clot in the brain. Sometimes, the clot can be reabsorbed by the body, but other times, surgery may be necessary.
What can cause traumatic brain injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by a number of things, but the severity of the impact to the head determines the seriousness of the injury. Car accidents rank as one of the leading causes of TBIs and can affect drivers, passengers, pedestrians or people riding other vehicles such as bicycles or motorcycles.
Sports injuries involve high-impact sports such as football or soccer can result in brain injuries. Older people are particularly susceptible to TBIs from falls. Acts of violence can also cause a brain injury, such as domestic violence and shaken baby syndrome.