Blows to the head are often the result of slip and fall accidents, sports-related
injuries, assaults,
car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other types of motor vehicle accidents. When
someone suffers a hit to the head or a violent jolt in one of these incidents,
it is likely that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be the result.
Unfortunately, a TBI can cause brain damage and dysfunction—changing
one’s life forever.
Although any type of TBI is serious and life-altering, there are different
degrees of traumatic brain injuries that are categorized in the following way:
-
Mild TBI. This type of TBI is considered a minor brain injury, such as a concussion.
Although not as serious as a severe TBI, a mild TBI can still cause a
change in someone’s mental status and behavior. Someone with a mild
TBI may look and act normal but may start becoming frustrated while performing
normal work duties and household tasks. Other TBI symptoms may include
headaches, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, loss of memory, trouble concentrating,
and personality changes. Sometimes the effects of a mild TBI can last
over a year or more. -
Moderate TBI. This type of TBI occurs when a person loses consciousness from a few minutes
to a few hours and suffers from confusion for weeks. When someone experiences
a change in brain function following head trauma, he or she may have the
same symptoms of a mild TBI; however, the symptoms end up getting worse
instead of going away. Sadly, the behavioral, cognitive, and physical
changes that result from the head injury can end up being permanent. -
Severe TBI. When brain tissues are ripped and crushed due to violent blows and penetrating
wounds to the head, a severe brain injury is likely the result. When such
serious head injuries occur, medical treatment is immediately required
followed by lengthy hospitalization and rehabilitation. Sadly, someone
with a severe TBI will not be the person he or she once was prior to the
injury. This is because severe traumatic brain injuries cause changes
to a person’s thoughts, language, emotions, and more.
TBIs: The Result of Open and Closed Head Injuries
It is important to note that severe traumatic brain injuries can occur
from both open head and closed head injuries. While the most severe head
trauma is usually the result of an open head injury that penetrates the
head and crushes the skull, a closed head injury can also result in a
severe TBI.
Some different types of open head injuries include:
- Depressed skull fracture: a break in a cranial bone and that bone is pressed inwards toward the brain.
-
Compound fracture: a break in skin and splintering of the bone—resulting in the brain
being exposed. - Basilar skull fracture: the result of a fracture to the base of the skull.
- Battle’s sign: the skull is fractured around the base—resulting in bruising behind the ear.
-
Raccoon eyes: the base of the skull is fractured—resulting in bruising around
the eyes or black eyes. -
Diastatic skull fracture: affects children under three, whose skull bones haven’t fused together.
As a result, an open head injury can cause the bone junctions to widen.
Even though the skull isn’t fractured in a closed head injury, serious
brain damage can still be the result due to the following factors:
-
Brain swelling. When the brain is injured, it swells. Because there is nowhere for the
brain to expand due to the hard skull around it, the swelling causes pressure
inside the head. -
Pressure within the skull. When the brain swells, intracranial pressure is increased which can restrict
blood flow to tissues and cause further damage to the brain. -
Brain tissues being compressed. When bleeding inside the skull occurs, it can cause compression of the
brain due to increasing pressure within the skull. Sadly, this can be
life-threatening.
Because all head injuries can result in brain damage, it is critical for
people who have suffered any type of head trauma to have a timely and
thorough medical examination by doctors who understand brain injuries.
Different types of brain injuries will require different treatments and
will have different long-term outcomes.
Anyone who has suffered any type of brain injury should consult with a
knowledgeable lawyer who has successfully handled brain injury cases.
For a free consultation, please call us at 703-721-4233 or fill out
a short form on our
Contact Us page and we will reach out to you.