Traumatic Brain Injuries - What Are They?

A traumatic brain injury (abbreviated to TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force. It results in considerable brain damage.

It usually occurs due to a violent, sudden blow or jerk to the head that pushes the brain against the inner wall of the bony skull. Traumatic brain injury can also be caused if a sharp object such as a bullet penetrates the skull, or if broken skull fragments are pushed into the brain tissue.

A traumatic brain injury, if mild, can lead to temporary brain dysfunction. However, a serious traumatic brain injury can cause severe damage to the brain that can lead to long-term effects and even death.

Recognize the Symptoms

Mild traumatic brain injury is generally referred to as concussion. Its symptoms are:

1. Unconsciousness that may last a few seconds or a couple of minutes.
2. Deterioration of memory
3. Concentration problems
4. Recurrent headache

Moderate, severe and very severe traumatic brain injury patients may show the symptoms of mild TBI. They may also show the following symptoms that usually take an hour to a few days to occur.

1. Extreme confusion and disorientation
2. Aggressive behaviour
3. Agitation and restlessness
4. Repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting
5. Drainage of clear fluids from the nose and ears

Common Causes

1. Falls. Mostly babies, young children and elderly people are vulnerable to a traumatic brain injury during a fall. The most common slip trips and fall accidents take place in bathrooms, and on stairs.
2. Road accidents. Collisions involving motor cycles, automobiles and bicycles are one of the leading causes of TBI. A large number of pedestrians are also hit by the vehicles and become traumatic brain injury victims.
3. Explosive blasts. Military personnel are among the most common victims of this form of brain injury. The explosive blasts generate high-pressure waves that can potentially damage the brain.

Prevention

1. Do not forget to wear your seatbelt in a car. Small children should never sit in the front seat of a motor vehicle. They must be properly secured in car seats or booster seats.
2. Don't drive when drunk. Equally important, don't walk drunk. An astonishing number of pedestrian accidents occur due to drunk walking.
3. Keep the bathroom floor dry and put high-friction mats in your bathtub.
4. Keep your staircase clutter-free and make sure it's well-lighted.
5. Get your eyes checked regularly.
6. If you don't want to have your head explode like a watermelon, wear a helmet when driving a cycle or a motorcycle!

I agree that the above suggestions sound rather "obvious" however when added up, the severe heading injuries that are caused by not doing the above form a rather large statistic. Common sense is really not all that common!

What to do if you have been injured.

Obviously the first thing you would need to do is get medical attention if you are presenting any of the above symptoms, these things can get worse over time so don't put it off no matter how insignificant they may seem to you,

The second thing you need to do is call a lawyer! If you have suffered an injury that affects your brain's function in any way, you need to speak with an attorney that specializes in personal injury as quickly as possible. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Failing to do so would be foolish, most lawyers will be happy to speak with you at no cost.

We hope this information has been helpful in some way. We would encourage you to seek medical and legal help if you have suffered any kind of brain injury.