What is a TBI?

The acronym TBI is medical shorthand for traumatic brain injury. Any head injury may cause a traumatic brain injury of which there are two major types. There are Penetrating Injuries wherein a foreign object enters the brain; the most common example of this type of object is a bullet. The damage to the brain in this type of injury is determined by the route that the foreign object took and what parts of the brain it hit. Obviously the symptoms would be determined also by which part of the brain is hit. The other type of traumatic brain injury is the Closed Head Injury. This occurs with a blow to the head possibly in an automobile accident, fall, being hit with a heavy object or by person bumping into some object such as a door.

Symptoms of a TBI vary by the severity of the injury. A mild traumatic brain injury could cause the following symptoms: the patient with a mild symptoms may or may not remain conscious for a few seconds, also they might have headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking. A moderate traumatic brain injury would have the above symptoms plus a headache. The most serious traumatic brain injury will have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.

When the symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI are present after an injury the patient should be taken to the hospital immediately where steps will be taken to retard further injury. Unfortunately, it is not always medically possible to reverse the damage that has already occurred. The medical team will check the damage to the skull by x-ray or CT scan and also determine whether there was any damage to the spinal cord. The patient may have to undergo surgeries to relieve pressure on the brain. The prognosis for the patient suffering a TBI will depend on their age, overall health and the nature of the head injury. Sadly there are many disabilities that result from a traumatic brain injury such as problems with thinking, speaking, overall mental behavior, and the lack of ability to solve simple problems. These patients may not be able to return to their previous employment or may not be able to work at all. They will be facing financial difficulties and possibly further health difficulties. The patient will need rehabilitative help to gain as much function back as possible.

If you or a family member has gone through this type of injury, you need to seek out help from a group like the Catastrophic Injury Resource Center. This group is staffed with people who understand these types of injuries and will help. Please contact them at the Catastrophic Injury Resource Center at 1-800-669-7700 or visit their website at http://www.catastrophicinjury.com for more information.