A traumatic brain injury is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Of the more than 1.4 million people who sustain a traumatic brain injury each year in the United States:
- 50,000 die;
- 235,000 are hospitalized; and
- 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.*
Severe brain injuries can result from what appear to be minor incidents. The leading causes of traumatic brain injury are:
- Falls (28%);
- Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
- Struck by/against (19%); and
- Assaults (11%).*
In general there are two types of brain injuries, open and closed. When a person suffers an open head injury it means there is a fracture and the skull is out of place or displaced. A closed head injury does not involve the fracturing of the skull. However it is very important to understand that a closed brain injury can in fact be more serious due to the risk of brain swelling or blood clots forming inside the skull. Brain injuries resulting from a closed or open head injury, can result in coma, physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral impairments and even death. Symptoms that may indicate a brain injury include:
- Headache;
- Fatigue;
- Sleep disturbance;
- Irritability;
- Sensitivity to noise or light;
- Balance problems;
- Decreased concentration and attention span;
- Decreased speed of thinking;
- Memory problems;
- Nausea;
- Depression and anxiety and;
- Emotional mood swings.
If you or someone you know has any of the described symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately.
* Langlois JA, Rutland-Brown W, Thomas KE. Traumatic brain injury in the United States: emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2004.
