Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur due to impacts, falls, or accidents that harm brain function. Cases are rising due to increased sports participation, road accidents, and aging populations prone to falls. Greater awareness and improved diagnostic tools also contribute to reported cases, highlighting the urgency of prevention and effective care strategies.
A traumatic injury is any injury that affects how the brain works. Different kinds of brain injuries are classified according to how they affect the brain. Speaking with an injury lawyer may help you move forward with your case and help you receive compensation. Generally, brain trauma falls into the following categories:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
The physicians will categorize the injury based on the underlying factors such as the patient’s mobility.
At-risk Population Groups
According to the CDC, several population groups are more likely to suffer from a traumatic brain injury. They include:
- Racial or ethnic minorities
- Homeless people
- Survivor of domestic violence
- People residing in rural regions
- People in correctional or detention facility
- Service members and veterans
Can You Have a Traumatic Brain Injury and Not Know?
Did you know you can suffer from a mild traumatic injury and have no idea? Yes, these injuries can manifest in different ways, and some patients have no idea what the problem is.
The injury may sometimes manifest in a delayed fashion with mild signs such as impulsive behavior, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, irritable behavior, and headaches. Some family members even report a change in the patient’s personality.
Factors That Can Lead to a Traumatic Brain Injury
Different circumstances may cause a brain injury, such as a bad accident. While we expect such injuries to be related to severe incidents, several factors, such as age, medications, and others, may increase the chances of a traumatic brain injury from a minor accident.
Several factors can lead to a traumatic brain injury, such as the ones listed below:
- A fall: This one leads to almost half of all traumatic brain injuries
- Firearm-related suicide: The most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in the US
- Motor vehicles and assaults: Another common cause of traumatic brain injury
Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The consequences of brain injuries depend on the severity of the injury. Some brain injuries only last a few days, and others last years to a lifetime. Statistics show that most people with mild injuries recover safely at home, while people with moderate or severe injuries need proper care to recover safely.
Traumatic injuries experienced in childhood might have far-reaching consequences. This is because they may disrupt a child’s development and limit their activity to participate in activities pertaining to youth like sports.
Such injuries may affect a child’s behavior, health, ability to participate in activities, and self-regulation. In summary, traumatic brain injuries experienced in childhood need proper care and monitoring to reduce the effects they may have on the patient’s development.
Treatment
Treatment for a brain injury will, for the most part, be determined by the kind of problem. When you get to the emergency room, the doctors will start by evaluating your injury using clinical and radiographical procedures.
Once thoroughly evaluated, the treatment procedure will be determined by the kind of injury and its severity. Luckily, only about 20 percent of brain injuries require some form of operation. For the most part, patients are closely monitored with imaging procedures.
Over the years, treatment for traumatic brain injury has significantly improved. Today, Hospitals have state-of-the-art equipment capable of detecting brain swelling in the early stages. Therefore, the capacity of hospitals to detect small to mild brain injuries is nothing compared to what it was, say, a decade or two ago.
Conclusion
Evidently, traumatic brain injury cases are on the rise across the United States. The surge may be due to risk factors such as age and underlying medical conditions. Moreover, the increase in road accidents may also have a role to play. Unfortunately, recuperating from a traumatic brain injury can take time and long-term medical care.