How traumatic brain injuries are treated

By: Shawn Cohen | January 3, 2022 3:12 am
: 5 Minutes to Read

How traumatic brain injuries are treated

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can occur whenever there is a shot to the head. A probing injury, including a gunshot wound, or non-penetrating harm, such as being hit in the head in a car accident, is both possible. The degree of traumatic brain damage varies. Many people can recover from TBIs in a matter of days, but more severe cases can result in lasting brain damage or even death.

Our team at Elite Sport & Personal Injury Centers of Atlanta can help with these types of injuries.

Who is at risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

  • A TBI can happen to anyone, although men account for roughly 80% of all TBIs. TBIs are more common in adults over the age of 65. This age group has a higher risk of losing their stance, falling, and striking their skulls.
  • TBIs can occur in newborns due to occurrences such as falling from a bed or changing tables or, more rarely, maltreatment.

TBIs are more common in those who work in specific professions or activities, such as:

  1. Sportsmen and women (both recreational and professional)
  2. Workers in the construction industry
  3. Members of the military
  4. Authorities and the police (Traumatic Brain Injury | Cleveland Clinic, 2014)

How common are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)?

In the United States, traumatic brain injuries are a primary cause of mortality and morbidity. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comes from 2014. TBIs were responsible for about 3 million emergency room visits, hospitalization and fatalities in that year. TBIs claimed the lives of further than 54,000 adults and 2,500 children in that year.

What are the options for dealing with a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

Numerous factors influence the seriousness of head trauma, including unconsciousness, specific neurological issues that occurred at the time of the crash, memory problems for the injuries sustained and the time leading up to it, and abnormality on a head CT or brain MRI.

TBI is classified into numerous types

Mild, moderate, severe, uncomplicated, complicated, closed, open, non-traumatic TBI are staged.

Independent Medical Examination (IME)

An Independent Medical Examination (IME) often entails a review of any physical, intellectual, or emotional damage that may have occurred due to the injury. NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL IME follows the same methods as clinical neuro-psychological testing, excluding treatment suggestions, which did not include in the Independent Medical Examination due to the non-treating nature of the patient-doctor interaction. Thus, a Neuropsychological Independent Medical Accordance with predetermined several hours to make starts with only a comprehensive clinical interview, followed by one or shorter neurocognitive testing examinations. (Independent Medical Exam IME for Brain Injury, Concussion, PTSD, Depression, n.d.)

Neurological care post traumatic brain injury

Treatments for traumatic brain injuries

Treatment for mild TBI

  • Mild TBI, often known as concussion, may not require any treatment other than rest. Even though they are not physically demanding, some actions, such as sitting on a computer and concentrating hard, can damage the brain.
  • An individual who has had a concussion may need to minimize these tasks or take frequent breaks to allow their brains to recover.
  • Alcohol and other drugs can also interfere with recovery and increase the likelihood of re-injury.

Emergency treatment for TBI

Emergency care frequently focuses on stabilizing and keeping the patient alive, which involves getting enough oxygen to the brain, regulating blood and central nervous system pressures, and preventing other head or shoulder injuries. After the client has been stabilized, different types of TBI rehabilitation may be started.

To prevent brain injury, surgery may be needed as part of emergency care. Surgical techniques may include the following:

  1. Removing blood clots
  2. Repairing skull fractures
  3. Relieving pressure inside the skull

Medications

Medications are available to treat TBI symptoms and minimize the risk of acquiring some of the illnesses that can occur due to it. Some medicines help with symptoms and issues related to TBI rehabilitation shortly after a TBI, whereas others help months or even years afterwards. Treatments such as the ones listed below may be used:

  • Anti-anxiety medication
  • Anticoagulants
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antidepressants
  • Diuretics
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Stimulants

Rehabilitation therapy

The rehabilitation therapy may include

  • Physical therapy

Physical therapy is essential for regaining energy and improving physical capability, stability, and mobility. It helps with the learning or relearning daily activities like dressing, feeding, and cleaning. This rehabilitation could encompass a variety of therapy for physical, emotional, and cognitive problems and tasks such as self-care, transportation, and social contact. Depending on the extent of the injury, these treatments may be necessary only shortly after an incident, occasionally throughout a person’s life, or constantly.

  • Psychological counseling
  • Vocational counseling
  • Speech therapy
  • Cognitive therapy
  • Occupational therapy (What are the treatments for TBI?, 2016)

After a brain injury, an individual may experience communication challenges, visual and behavior abnormalities, philosophical issues, and infection, among other things. Consequently, neurological care is crucial because all therapies will help improve the capacity to establish words, speak loudly, and use different communication abilities. Medication can help repair chemical imbalances caused by TBI to help the patient acquire coping skills, increase interpersonal interactions, and improve overall emotional well-being. By discovering appropriate work opportunities and coping skills for workplace challenges, neurological care will support a patient in returning to work and community living.

Contact Elite Sport & Personal Injury Centers of Atlanta for a free consultation by giving us a call at 678-606-9833 or contact us online.

Shawn Cohen

Shawn Cohen is the Vice President of Elite Sport & Personal Injury Center since 2017. He has vast experience in the personal injury space and has worked side by side with personal injury lawyers, neurologist and other key stakeholders while ensuring successful operations of the business.

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