Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain resulting from direct trauma such as a blow to the head with a hard object (by either hitting the object or being hit by it), or indirect trauma such as from whiplash in which the head experiences a sudden sharp motion involving severe forces.

Diagnosis and Severity of Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain damage from TBIs ranges in severity from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms of neurological impairment vary and depend on what part of the brain was injured. Severity of a traumatic brain injury is generally determined by the amount of time it takes the victim's symptoms to progress the following three stages:

• Coma - loss of consciousness (from seconds to weeks or longer).
• Post-traumatic amnesia - impairment of cognitive abilities such as remembering (memory), concentration, and thinking abilities.
• Recovery - progressive improvement in cognitive abilities and behavioral functions.

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), often used by emergency medical personnel, is a standard by which head injury severity is initially assessed. It measures the ability of patients to open their eyes, speak, and move their arms and legs. The lower the score, the more severe the injury.

Diagnostic Imaging Tests in Traumatic Brain Injury

Patients with GCS scores indicating a moderate or severe head injury are given additional tests to further the diagnosis. Imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans, which show physical changes in the brain, including hematomas, swelling of the brain, contusions, certain types of tissue damage, and bone fractures.

Other Diagnostic Tests

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a form of brain damage that cannot be diagnosed with CT and MRI imaging techniques. DAI damage is scattered among nerve cells in which the axon membranes and supportive tissues have been damaged or stretched (often the result of TBI from whiplash or Shaken Baby Syndrome). This type of trauma to the brain causes biochemical changes at the end of the nerve cell axons that result in secretions of toxic substances in the brain tissue. DAI injuries require more sophisticated imaging techniques, such as SPECT and PET, which can measure brain cell metabolism.

Undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI can often go undiagnosed, especially when the patient has other life-threatening injuries. This can frequently happen with victims of motor vehicle accidents when the priority of the medical personnel is to focus on life-saving measures. If accident victims require sedation or a ventilator, brain injury can go undiagnosed until patients emerge from sedation and are removed from the ventilator. Worse still, traumatic brain injury may go undiagnosed for months or more until the patient begins to have problems with certain cognitive functions, social behaviors, or physical coordination.

Treating Brain Damage and Traumatic Brain Injury

Each brain injury is different, so each patient must be assessed individually for the best rehabilitative treatment plan. Treatment plans include:

• Medication
• Physical rehabilitation
• Speech and cognitive treatment
• Neuropsychological services
• Community support
• Family support
• Psychotherapy
• Other treatments

Since mood swings and depression are common for recovering victims of traumatic brain injury, one of the most important elements for recovery is a support network consisting of professional caregivers, family members, friends, and coworkers.

Long-Term Outcomes of Traumatic Brain Injury

Many TBI victims may have long-term or permanent side effects. Recovery periods can take months or up to years. Many victims never fully recover and experience permanent changes in thinking and language abilities, and emotions. About two percent of the U.S. population has some degree of permanent side effects or disability from traumatic brain injury that require long-term or lifelong assistance to perform normal daily activities.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, consider contacting an experienced brain injury attorney. Your traumatic brain injury lawyer will help you get the support you need and can help you obtain financial resources you deserve, such as compensation for future medical care and lost wages.