Overview of Scans and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Assessment Tools
Different severities of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can produce a variety of symptoms and potential long-term consequences in the affected individual. Immediately following any accident, fall, or other event involving a blow to the head, medical attention should be sought if following symptoms manifest either immediately or within any number or hours following an accident:
- Blurred Vision
- Desire to Sleep or Abnormal Sleep Patterns
- Lack of Concentration
- Loss of Consciousness
- Nausea / Vomiting
- Seizures, Tremors
- Speech Impairment / Slurring
- Trouble Focusing / Concentrating
- Uneven Pupils – One Large, One Small
- Dizziness
- Fluid Leaking from the Nose and/or Ears
- Headache
- Impaired Memory / Confusion
- Impulsiveness / Vocal Outbursts
Traumatic Brain Injury Assessment Tools
Moderate to severe TBIs constitute emergency situations and a patient’s condition can decline without timely assessment and treatment of the specific condition. Trauma specialists and neurologists rely on a few basic screening tools to help assess potential severity of a brain injury. Doctors or other trained medical personnel may begin a traumatic brain injury assessment using some of the following approaches and tests:
- Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale: This tool applies to cases of severe brain injury that result in a loss of consciousness. As a brain injury patient first awakens (often after a medically induced coma), doctors may use the Rancho Los Amigos scale to assess the patient with a score from one to eight, indicating the initial stage from which a patient may begin his/her progression through recovery.
o Level I (No reaction)
o Level II (General reaction)
o Level III (Local reaction)
o Level IV (Confusion/Agitation).
o Level V (Confusion/Inappropriate)
o Level VI (Confusion/Appropriate)
o Level VII (Automatic/Appropriate)
o Level VIII (Purposeful/Appropriate)
- Glasgow Coma Scale: This 15-point test that may be administered to detect the initial severity level of an injury as a patient is triaged or brought into an ER. The test’s steps allow a doctor or paramedic to check a patient’s ability to follow directions as well as move their eyes, arms, and legs. The test also gives the administrator a chance to listen to the patient’s speech coherence. Patients receive more points for following commands correctly. A higher score typically indicates only a minor or moderate head injury.
- CT scan (Computerized Tomography): This computerized scan uses X-Rays to quickly visualize fractures and confirm evidence of bleeding and swelling in the brain. CT scans can be administered quickly and are used as a preview of suspected brain injuries.
- MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This scan employs magnets and radio waves to create a detailed, 3-D cross-section view of the brain. MRIs take longer to administer and may be used following an initial CT scan to allow doctors to see, in detail, specific areas of the brain and any localized or widespread damage.
A medical assessment should be sought out immediately, even in cases of mild head injuries. Traumatic brain injury patients should not wait for their symptoms to persist or worsen before seeking medical help. New research has linked potential long-term deficits to the occurrence of just one serious concussion or head injury. If damage is assessed, an appropriate treatment plan can begin almost immediately and the brain’s chances for healing and full recovery may be greatly increased.
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