Brain Trauma
Traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force injures the brain. Such injuries can be caused by the head striking or being struck by something causing a closed head injury, or an object passing through the skull and into the brain such as a bullet or other object causing a penetrating head injury. A major cause of traumatic brain injury is motor vehicle accidents. Other causes are falls, sports injuries, work accidents, violent crimes and child abuse.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a closed head injury may include: headache, short or long term memory loss, slowed ability to process information, trouble concentrating, difficulty paying attention or keeping up with a conversation, difficulty with word patterns, spatial disorientation, organizational problems or impaired judgment, or the inability to do more than one thing at a time. Other symptoms that may be present are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, unequal pupil size as well as lethargy or changes in sleep patterns. Serious injury can alter cerebral blood flow or cause swelling and pressure in the skull. Suspicion of traumatic brain injury should be checked immediately by physician.
Treatments
Depending on the seriousness of the injury the treatment required may be minimal or may require medications or emergency surgery. It is important to have any suspected brain trauma injury taken seriously and checked immediately to avoid further injury to the brain. Because little can be done to reverse the initial damage caused by the trauma, stabilizing the individual and ensuring a proper oxygen supply to the brain and the rest of the body as well as maintaining adequate blood flow and controlling blood pressure are main concerns of the physician. Injuries resulting from objects entering the brain require treatment by a highly skilled neurosurgeon to remove particles or objects that may be embedded in the brain or skull and damage can be permanent. Because each injury is different the treatment will vary depending on the type and acuteness of injury. Further treatment through physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and possibly psychological therapy may be required to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation of the individual.
Our skilled neurosurgeons at SCCNS are proud to be able to boast extensive experience in brain trauma treatments and an unsurpassed surgical success rate.