BRAIN INJURY INFORMATION
TYPES OF BRAIN INJURY
Just as every individual is unique, all brain injuries are different. Several different types of injury can affect the brain, depending on the amount of force, the way it is delivered, and the part of the brain involved. The following terms are among the more common ways of talking about brain injury (source is Brain Injury Association of America):
Traumatic Brain Injury is caused by an external physical force. It results in impaired cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also affect behavioral and emotional functioning.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Acquired Brain Injury is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative or caused by birth trauma. It occurs at the cellular level, and therefore can affect the entire brain, rather than just one section. Such injuries can affect an individual's communication ability, memory, attention and concentration, reasoning, abstract thinking, physical functions, social behaviors and information processing abilities.
Types of Acquired Brain Injuries
TRAUMATIC OF BRAIN INJURY
Traumatic Brain Injury is caused by an external physical force. It results in impaired cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also affect behavioral and emotional functioning. Types of traumatic brain injury include:
Diffuse Axonal Injury can be caused by shaking or strong rotation of the head. The unmoving brain lags behind movement of the skull, causing brain structures to tear. Extensive tearing of nerve tissue can release brain chemicals, causing additional injury. The tearing and disturbance of the brain can disrupt its communication and chemical processes. It can produce damage, coma or death.
Contusion can result from a direct impact to the head, and is a bruise (bleeding) on the brain. Large contusions may require surgery.
Coup-Countercoup Injury describes contusions at both the site of impact and the opposite side of the brain. This occurs when the force impacting the head causes the brain to slam to the opposite side of the skull, shearing brain cells. The result is a contusion at the original impact site, and on the opposite side.
Second Impact Syndrome can occur when an individual sustains a second brain injury before the symptoms from the first have healed. This second injury is more likely to cause swelling and widespread damage and requires immediate emergency medical treatment. Long-term effects include muscle spasms, increased muscle tone, rapidly changing emotions, hallucinations and difficulty thinking and learning.
Penetrating Injury occurs from the impact of a bullet, knife or other sharp object that forces hair, skin, bone and fragments into the brain. These injuries can include a through-and-through injury made when an object enters the skull, goes through the brain, and exits the skull. The injuries result from the penetration, as well as the shearing, stretching and rupture of brain tissue.
Locked in Syndrome is a rare neurological condition in which a person cannot move any part of the body, except the eyes. Victims are fully conscious and able to think and use blinking and eye gestures to communicate.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
Acquired Brain Injury is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative or caused by birth trauma. It occurs at the cellular level, and therefore can affect the entire brain, rather than just one section. Such injuries can affect an individual's communication ability, memory, attention and concentration, reasoning, abstract thinking, physical functions, social behaviors and information processing abilities. Acquired brain injuries include:
Anoxic Brain Injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Cases include injuries in which no oxygen reaches the brain, from situations in which the blood to the brain carries too little oxygen and from cases when toxins in the blood block oxygen from being used.
Hypoxic Brain Injury results from the brain receiving some, but not enough oxygen. This can be caused by a reduction in blood flow of blood pressure caused by numerous factors: obstructed airway, near-drowning, electrical shock, trauma, lightening strike and more.
Secondary Brain Damage is caused by changes in blood chemistry that ultimately damage the brain. This can be caused by certain medical conditions.
Toxic Brain Injury occurs when chemicals in the blood break through the blood-brain barrier and cause damage. Our practice sees a growing number of brain injuries caused by chemical exposure.
