Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury
July 24, 2024
Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of disability and death in people aged 45 and above. Among common neurological disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI) has the highest incidence. An acute and chronic condition, TBI has long-term consequences, including lifelong disabilities and late-onset neurodegeneration. A noncongenital and nondegenerative condition, TBI poses a significant concern for health and rehabilitation professionals. It is caused by injury to the brain from external forces such as blows, jolts, bumps, and penetrating wounds to the head. The injuries can lead to temporary or permanent impairment of psychosocial, cognitive, and physical functions, often associated with an altered or diminished state of consciousness. However, not all head jolts, blows, or bumps cause TBI. Some of these may cause bony skull damage without subsequent or long-term injury to the brain. There are two main types of traumatic brain injuries: penetrating and non-penetrating. Also known as open TBIs in medical circles, penetrating TBI is when an object pierces the skull and reaches and damages part of the brain tissue. For example, this can happen when the head is hit by a sharp object such as a bullet, shrapnel, or knife. A non-penetrating or blunt TBI is when something hits the head hard enough that the brain twists and bounces around inside the skull. Also known as closed-head TBI, it can happen in a fall, violent encounter, or vehicle accident either as a passenger or pedestrian, in sports, or due to a nearby explosion. For service members, TBIs can be due to blast trauma from roadside bombs in military conflicts. In children, TBI can also be due to child abuse, such as shaking. With a direct head blow, the damage and bruising of the brain tissue and blood vessels, the injury process is known as coup-contrecoup. As the brain jolts inside the head, it can hit the skull and cause a bruise known as a contrecoup lesion. The brain jarring against the skull can cause tearing or shearing of the internal tissues, lining, and blood vessels. This may lead to internal bleeding, swelling, or bruising of the brain. Traumatic brain injuries should be evaluated immediately by an experienced head injury professional, a neurologist. A neurological exam informs whether sensory and motor skills, speech, and hearing abilities have been affected. A neurologist tests mental status, coordination and balance, and changes in behavior or mood. Imaging tests commonly used for TBI include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). No two TBIs are exactly similar. Therefore, approaches to TBI neurological physiotherapy and rehabilitation should consider different factors. These include neuroplasticity and motor learning, and the treatment should be patient-centered. The process should also involve the individual in choosing treatment and goal setting. Neuropsychological tests can be done to gauge brain functioning in people suffering from mild TBI. They involve performing specific tasks to assess information processing, memory, concentration, problem-solving, reaction time, and problem-solving. In recent years, significant advances have been made in detecting milder cases of TBI damage, particularly through advanced imaging techniques. Diffusion tensor imaging, for example, can help identify white matter tracts in the brain. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery helps detect small damage areas. Susceptibility-weighted imaging can identify hard-to-detect bleeds in the brain.