Traumatic brain injury – causes, complaints & therapy

A craniocerebral trauma is an injury to the head, which occurs under direct force and causes damage to the cranial bones and the brain. Depending on the degree of injury, a distinction can be made between three different forms of traumatic brain injury. Thus, according to the so-called Glasgow Coma Scale, one speaks of a mild, moderate or severe craniocerebral trauma, which is recognizable by different symptoms.

In addition, a distinction can be made between a closed and an open craniocerebral trauma. While a closed craniocerebral trauma usually heals without further after-effects, an open craniocerebral trauma can leak cerebrospinal fluid due to an injury to the meninges and thus a life-threatening situation arises.

Causes

A craniocerebral trauma is caused by an external force on the skull, in which both the skull and the brain suffer severe damage. The most common triggers of a traumatic brain injury are serious traffic accidents in which the head hits the steering wheel or the window.

But bicycle falls also cause a traumatic brain injury, as the head was often not covered by a helmet. While these causes primarily affect young people, falls are often the cause of traumatic brain injury in older people. In addition, accidents occurring during sports, in everyday working life or in the home environment can trigger a traumatic brain injury.

Often, however, a traumatic brain injury also occurs in connection with violent crimes, in which the head is injured by blows or gunshots. Regardless of the cause, there is always the risk of a so-called polytrauma, in which other parts of the body have life-threatening damage in addition to the skull.

Symptoms and course

Typical signs of traumatic brain injury:

• Vomit

• Headache

• Vertigo

• Concentration disorders

• Neck

• Speech disorders

• Visual impairment

• Unconsciousness

• Discomfort

A traumatic brain injury can be recognized by different symptoms depending on the severity. Thus, with a mild craniocerebral trauma, in addition to dizziness and headaches, nausea and vomiting may also occur.

In addition, the affected person may lose consciousness for a short time or be restricted in his memory. These symptoms also occur in moderate trauma, but memory loss can last for a longer period of time. In addition, neurological disorders such as paralysis or speech difficulties can also occur.

Often, those affected subsequently also have a post-traumatic syndrome, which manifests itself in poor concentration, dizziness and neck pain. While these symptoms pass after some time in a mild traumatic brain injury, permanent damage can occur in a severe traumatic brain injury. Here, the patient can, for example, fall into a coma due to the severe damage to the brain, tend to epileptic seizures or suffer physical disabilities.

Diagnosis

In order to identify a craniocerebral trauma as quickly as possible and to optimally counteract serious consequences, various examinations are carried out on the patient as part of the diagnostics. In addition to a patient survey, the Pulse , respiration and blood pressure are checked . If there are indications of a craniocerebral trauma, the doctor classifies using the Glasgow ComaRate the severity of the trauma. The doctor checks the patient’s responsiveness, the motor functions of the arms and legs and whether the eyes are open. A points system can then be used to differentiate between mild, moderate and severe craniocerebral trauma. In addition, imaging diagnostics of the skull are often created in the hospital using Computer Tomography , which makes injuries and bleeding in the brain recognizable.

Treatment and therapy

In order to avoid serious consequences, treatment should be started immediately after the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury. This can take different forms depending on the severity of the trauma. In the case of a slight craniocerebral trauma, a hospital stay is usually avoided. Instead, headaches can be treated with painkillers prescribed by a doctor, while physical therapy can be used in addition to appropriate medication to relieve neck pain that occurs.

In the case of a moderately severe or severe traumatic brain injury, treatment is provided immediately at the scene of the accident. In this case, an attempt is first made to keep blood pressure and breathing stable before specific treatment is started in the hospital.If there is severe damage to the brain, which includes swelling and bleeding in particular, surgery may also be necessary. In the case of neurological damage, rehabilitation begins after the treatment, which is based on the respective symptoms and neurological deficits of the person concerned.

The healing chances of such a therapy depend on the age of the patient and the severity of his trauma. The duration of the therapy also varies from patient to patient, but usually takes a maximum of two years.

Prevention

In order to prevent traumatic brain injury, life-threatening situations should be avoided as far as possible. Above all, you can counteract traffic accidents, for example, by not drinking alcohol at the wheel and by increasing speeds. You should also always pay attention to the use of seat belts and the presence of airbags. Protective clothing is also a sensible measure against head injuries. A helmet should always be worn for sports such as cycling or skiing, as this can significantly reduce the risk of brain injuries in the event of a traumatic brain injury.