In my practice I see many clients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, whether from a car accident, a slip and fall at a place of business or the result of other negligence. Some clients may not recognize the symptoms of a brain injury, which can lead to medical complications. It’s important to understand what a traumatic brain injury is and how they can occur.
A person is at risk for a traumatic brain injury whenever they are involved in an accident that has movement at high-speed, or a rapid change in speed, like automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, fights, violent shaking or a fall. Physical signs like scrapes or bleeding need not be present to have a significant brain injury. Similarly, one does not need to pass out or lose consciousness to have a serious injury. It is critical that anyone involved in an accident where they hit their head sees a medical professional as soon as possible for a full evaluation.
According to the CDC: “There were approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020 and 69,473 TBI-related deaths in 2021. This represents more than 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related deaths per day. These estimates do not include the TBIs that are only treated in the emergency department, primary care, urgent care, or those that go untreated.”
A concussion, also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Although concussions may not be immediately life-threatening, the effects can be serious, cause significant interruptions in one’s life, and require lengthy treatment. An mTBI occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to move back and forth rapidly. As the skull bone is hard and the brain material is soft, the brain bounces back and forth on the walls of the skull. The resultant “brain bruise” impairs proper functioning of the brain; thus, the ability to focus, think, recall, and formulate ideas becomes impaired.
The symptoms of TBI are variable and include headaches, neck pain, nausea, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and excessive tiredness. These symptoms may not present initially at injury but evolve over time. Accident victims often feel dazed and “not themselves” for days to weeks after the injury. If the TBI is complex with a brain bleed, this can lead to serious medical emergencies such as confusion, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, loss of coordination, convulsions or seizures. These need immediate evaluation by medical professionals. Most symptoms typically resolve within 6-8 months.
TBIs are diagnosed by a medical professional through an initial physical exam, including a neurological exam, which checks vision, balance, coordination, and reflexes. Memory and cognition are evaluated, and often re-evaluated to monitor progression. Depending on the forces involved and the presenting physical examination, a CT scan may be obtained at the time of injury to assess for life threatening emergencies such as bleeding within the brain. A normal CT scan does not rule out a TBI. Follow-up studies with 3T MRI can demonstrate subtle irregularities that confirm the presence of brain injury months later.
Most people fully recover from a single TBI event. Brain rest is especially important for healing. Limiting activity, especially tasks involving focus and concentration, such as studying, working on the computer, or even playing video games help reduce concussion symptoms of headaches and brain fatigue. When symptoms persist, a medical professional may recommend further testing and evaluation by neurocognitive specialists. Recovery from a TBI is a dynamic process that takes time and patience. Injured victims can suffer from ongoing headaches, emotional dysregulation, impairment in their ability to work, and strained interpersonal relationships.
If you have been injured in an accident, contact us for a free consultation.