Many Florida residents who get into car accidents are left with injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious and can affect you in myriad ways depending on their severity.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A TBI is a type of brain injury that occurs when a person suffers a blow to the head or when an object penetrates the skull during motor vehicle accidents or other types of accidents. In most cases, the injury occurs when the brain is violently jolted from one end of the skull to the other upon impact. TBIs can range from mild to severe.
What are the different types of TBIs?
One of the most common types of TBIs is a concussion. Concussions are usually temporary injuries that cause short-term unconsciousness. However, if this injury isn’t promptly treated, it could worsen.
A contusion can also occur with a TBI. It is characterized by bruising to the brain and usually affects a certain area as a result of the impact during the accident.
Diffuse axonal injury is a TBI that occurs when the nerves inside the brain are stretched and damaged. This injury can be serious and can cause a person to have trouble staying awake or falling asleep.
Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and hematoma are the most serious types of TBIs. They involve bleeding either around or inside the brain and require immediate medical treatment. In the case of a hematoma, surgery is often needed as the injury can lead to a brain blood clot.
How is TBI diagnosed?
TBIs caused by motor vehicle crashes and other incidents are diagnosed using different testing options. Two of the most common ways are by using CT scans or MRI. If deeper testing is required, the patient might have a magnetic resonance spectroscopy or MRS test. This test also gives an idea of the person’s prognosis for recovery.
TBI is a serious injury that should be treated immediately.