Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page
Synonym: Head Injury, Brain
Injury
Table of Contents
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head
causes damage to the brain. The damage can be focal, confined to one
area of the brain, or diffuse, involving more than one area of the
brain. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating
head injury. A closed head injury occurs when the head suddenly and
violently hits an object, but the object does not break through the
skull. A penetrating head injury occurs when an object pierces the
skull and enters the brain tissue. Several types of traumatic
injuries can affect the head and brain. A skull fracture occurs when
the bone of the skull cracks or breaks. A depressed skull fracture
occurs when pieces of the broken skull press into the tissue of the
brain. This can cause bruising of the brain tissue, called a
contusion. A contusion can also occur in response to shaking of the
brain within the confines of the skull, an injury called
"countrecoup." Shaken baby syndrome is a severe form of head injury
that occurs when a baby is shaken forcibly enough to cause extreme
countrecoup injury. Damage to a major blood vessel within the head
can cause a hematoma, or heavy bleeding into or around the brain.
The severity of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to the
extremes of coma or even death. A coma is a profound or deep state
of unconsciousness. Symptoms of a TBI may include headache, nausea,
confusion or other cognitive problems, a change in personality,
depression, irritability, and other emotional and behavioral
problems. Some people may have seizures as a result of a TBI.
Is there any treatment?
Immediate treatment for TBI
involves surgery to control bleeding in and around the brain,
monitoring and controlling intracranial pressure, insuring adequate
blood flow to the brain, and treating the body for other injuries
and infection.
What is the prognosis?
The outcome of TBI depends on
the cause of the injury and on the location, severity, and extent of
neurological damage: outcomes range from good recovery to death.
Doctors often use the Glasgow Coma Scale to rate the extent of
injury and chances of recovery. The scale (3-15) involves testing
for three patient responses: eye opening, best verbal response, and
best motor response. A high score indicates a good prognosis and a
low score indicates a poor prognosis.
What research is being done?
The NINDS conducts and
supports research on trauma-related disorders, including traumatic
brain injuries. Much of this research focuses on increasing
scientific understanding of these disorders and finding ways to
prevent and treat them.
Organizations
Acoustic Neuroma Association
600
Peachtree Parkway
Suite 108
Cumming, GA
30041
anausa@aol.com
http://www.anausa.org/
Tel:
770-205-8211
Fax: 770-205-0239
Brain Injury Association
8201
Greensboro Drive
Suite 611
McLean, VA 22102
FamilyHelpline@biausa.org
http://www.biausa.org/
Tel:
703-761-0750 800-444-6443
Fax: 703-761-0755
Brain Trauma Foundation
523 East 72nd
Street
8th Floor
New York, NY 10021
info@braintrauma.org
http://www.braintrauma.org/
Tel:
212-772-0608
Fax: 212-772-0357
Family Caregiver Alliance
690 Market
Street
Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104
info@caregiver.org
http://www.caregiver.org/
Tel:
415-434-3388 800-445-8106
Fax: 415-434-3508
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
U.S. Department of
Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC
20202
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr
Tel:
202-205-5465
National Rehabilitation Information Center
(NARIC)
4200 Forbes Boulevard
Suite 202
Lanham,
MD 20706-4829
naricinfo@heitechservices.com
http://www.naric.com/
Tel:
301-459-5900/301-459-5984 (TTY) 800-346-2742
Fax:
301-562-2401
National Stroke Association
9707 East
Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
info@stroke.org
http://www.stroke.org/
Tel:
303-649-9299 800-STROKES (787-6537)
Fax:
303-649-1328
Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public
Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information
purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or
an official position of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the
treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained
through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient
or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
Last updated December 03, 2004
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