Over the past few decades, there has been a lot of focus from the medical community on research regarding traumatic brain injuries. This has led to many new diagnostic and treatment options for patients and families that previously did not have any. Unfortunately, traumatic brain injuries are still far too common. Every year, countless families are impacted by these devastating injuries. Thus, there is some important information that every family should remember regarding traumatic brain injuries.

Like other traumatic injuries, there are several ways that people could suffer neurological damage. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries include:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Auto accidents remain one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries yearly. In a motor vehicle accident, it is possible that people could strike their head on the dashboard, window, or steering wheel. This blunt impact on the skull can lead to severe head injuries.
• Slip and Fall Injuries: Slip and fall accidents can lead to traumatic brain injury. This could occur on a slip floor, icy sidewalk, or even going up or down the stairs.
• Contact Sports: Head injuries can also be sustained while playing contact sports. Even though there have been significant advances in playing equipment, sports such as football, soccer, and basketball could lead to a TBI.

Not all blows to the head will lead to a traumatic brain injury. Everyone needs to know what to look for following an impact on the head or neck area.

A traumatic brain injury can present in multiple ways. Some of the most common symptoms of a TBI include:

• A possible loss of consciousness
• Severe, chronic headaches that could come and go frequently
• Memory loss, particularly surrounding issues immediately before or after the accident
• Possible bruising or bleeding of the skull
• Hearing or vision loss
• Shooting pains that could travel down the arms and legs
• Difficulty moving the neck from side to side
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Irritability that could be brought on by bright lights or loud noises
• Rapid mood swings and emotional lability

Some people might suffer all the symptoms above, while others might have only one or two. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms following an accident should be seen by a medical professional. He or she might have sustained a traumatic brain injury.

To fully understand a traumatic brain injury, watch the following video:

If an individual presents to a doctor with the abovementioned symptoms, they might receive head imaging. This imaging is necessary because it could help to diagnose a traumatic brain injury. Two of the potential imaging scans include:

• CT Scan: A CT scan is often the first imaging procedure to diagnose a TBI. Some advantages of a CT scan are that it produces a 3-D image, is fast, and picks up on significant issues such as skull fractures, bleeds, and cerebral swelling. The significant disadvantage is that a CT scan also uses a lot of radiation.
• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging can also diagnose a traumatic brain injury. The advantage of an MRI is that it produces a more detailed image and requires no radiation. Unfortunately, an MRI also takes a long time to complete and is far more expensive.

Like other injuries, the treatments of neurological damage will depend on its type and severity. Some of the treatment options include:

• Medical Options: Several medications could be used following a traumatic brain injury. These include anti-inflammatory drugs to control swelling, pain medications such as narcotics and opiates, and medications used to control blood pressure.
• Surgical Procedures: In some cases, emergency surgery might be required for a severe head or neck injury. Surgery could be necessary to remove a blood clot, stop swelling within the brain, or control bleeding.
• Therapy: Long-term treatment will often involve therapy as well. Those who suffer from TBIs are at an increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. These require the attention of a trained mental health professional.