A Traumatic Brain Injury results from an outside force impacting or penetrating the skull which results in damage to the brain. An impact can cause the brain to collide with the inside surface of the skull, while a penetrating object can destroy brain tissue along its path of entry. Either type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may produce brain bleeding, swelling, and bruising.
The majority of mild to moderate head injuries (also called concussions) are not visible, except for common symptoms exhibited by the injured person:
- Nausea / Vomiting
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
- Abrupt Mood Swings or Irritability
- Memory Loss
- Impaired Vision or Speech
- Balance Difficulties
Aside from rest and rehabilitation, there is no true medical cure for TBI outside of the body’s own ability to heal. In cases of mild TBI, plenty of rest often leads to full recovery. In cases of severe TBI, lasting effects from brain tissue damage can be permanent.
Tips for Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury
The US Center for Disease Control and Injury Prevention, as well as the Mayo Clinic, states that many occurrences of traumatic brain injury can be reduced through basic safety precautions. In seniors, the leading cause of traumatic brain injury is falls and/or slip and fall accidents. Older adults can take certain steps to prevent falls, thus preventing TBIs.
- To help prevent falls around the home, especially for older adults:
- Install handrails in bathrooms
- Place a nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower
- Avoid or remove area rugs
- Install handrails on both sides of staircases
- Keep stairs and walkways free of clutter
- Exercise among seniors is important. Exercises designed to improve balance and coordination, such as Tai Chi, are helpful in preventing falls
- All bikers and bicyclists should wear helmets at all times
- Helmets should also be worn by children and adults while skating, skateboarding, skiing, and playing contact sports
- Drivers and passengers in motor vehicles are advised to wear seat belts at all times
- Never operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications that can impair the ability to drive
- Supervise children while swimming. Only dive into in-ground pools designed specifically for diving at the designated diving area with a depth of 9 feet or deeper
- Making living areas safer for children:
- Install window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows
- Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Statistics
- Nearly 1,700,000 TBIs occur each year in the US
- On average, one person in the US sustains a TBI every 21 seconds
- One third of all accident-related deaths are associated with TBI, at least 50,000 people each year
- An average of nearly 470,000 annual emergency department visits for TBI consist of children ages 0 to 14 years
- Senior citizens ages 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and death over any other age group.
- 5,300,000 people in the US, about 2% of the population, live with disabilities resulting from brain injuries
- Direct medical costs and indirect costs (such as lost productivity) of TBI are at least $60 billion each year
- The total lifetime costs of treating a person with a TBI are estimated to be between $600,000 to $1.8 million
References:
CDC (2)
