Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when sudden trauma results in damage to the brain. When the head suddenly hits an object or the skull is pierced, brain damage, or the disruption of proper brain function may occur. The symptoms of TBI vary based on the amount and type of brain damage, and clinicians categorize TBI as mild (also referred to as concussion), moderate or severe. TBI is a serious health problem worldwide, contributing to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
Moderate TBI
Severe TBI
Mild TBI
(Concussion)
None or brief loss of consciousness, usually a few seconds or minutes
Post-trauma amnesia for less than 1 hour
Normal brain imaging results – CT, MRI
Loss of consciousness for 1-24 hours
Post-trauma amnesia for 1-24 hours
Abnormal brain imaging results – CT, MRI
Loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours
Post-trauma amnesia for more than 24 hours
Abnormal brain imaging results – CT, MRI
About 75% of TBIs are concussions or other forms of mild TBI
75%
TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths
30.5%
Each year, an estimated 1.7 million people visit an Emergency Department with a TBI
1.7 MM
$76.5 B
Direct medical costs & indirect costs due to TBI totaled nearly $76.5B in 2000
Facts About Traumatic Brain Injury
US-based statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Ultrasound has been used in medicine for over 50 years to safely obtain images of internal body organs, blood vessels, muscles, tendons, and fetuses in pregnant women. Ultrasound is also referred to as sonography and uses sound waves to create images. A device called an ultrasound probe is placed on the skin and emits a high-frequency sound in the direction to be examined. The sound wave bounces off of the item of interest and back to the probe to determine its size and shape, or the direction or velocity of the blood flow.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TCD) is a medical technology that measures the blood flow velocity in the arteries of the brain. The test uses an ultrasound probe that is positioned lightly on the temple, where it transmits ultrasound waves that pass into the brain, through the arteries and bounce off the red blood cells, like an echo. The reflected sound waves are detected by the probe and converted into a measurement of how the blood is flowing through the vessels.
TCD has been used clinically since the 1980s and is considered to be a safe and effective test because it is non-invasive; relatively inexpensive; able to be used for prolonged periods; and is portable, enabling inpatient and outpatient testing.
For Brain Health Monitoring, the patient lays at rest for approximately ten minutes while the probes are positioned and while the data is collected. Then the data is processed and presented to the clinician for use in patient management decisions.
What is
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound?
Concussion Signs & Symptoms
Section content courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
THINKING/REMEMBERING
PHYSICAL
EMOTIONAL/MOOD
SLEEP
SYMPTOMS OF CONCUSSION USUALLY FALL INTO FOUR CATEGORIES
Difficulty thinking clearly
Headache
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Feeling slowed down
Sleeping more than usual
Sleep less than usual
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty remembering
Nausea/vomiting (early on)
Dizziness
Sensitivity to noise/light
Balance problems
Feeling tired, having no energy
Irritability
Sadness
More emotional
Nervousness or anxiety
Trouble falling asleep
Emergency Care
Seek emergency care for anyone who experiences
a head injury and symptoms such as:
-
Repeated vomiting
-
A loss of consciousness lasting longer than 30 seconds
-
A headache that gets worse over time
-
Changes in his or her behavior, such as irritability
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Changes in physical coordination, such as stumbling or clumsiness
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Confusion or disorientation, such as difficulty recognizing people or places
-
Slurred speech or other changes in speech
Athletes
No one should return to play or vigorous activity while signs or symptoms of a concussion are present. Experts recommend that an athlete with a suspected concussion not return to play until he or she has been medically evaluated by a health care professional trained in evaluating and managing concussions. Children and adolescents should be evaluated by a health care professional trained in evaluating and managing pediatric concussions. Experts also recommend that adult, child and adolescent athletes with a concussion not return to play on the same day as the injury.
The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not be immediately apparent. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer. Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion. The amnesia, which may or may not follow a loss of consciousness, usually involves the loss of memory of the event that caused the concussion.
The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not be immediately apparent. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer. Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion. The amnesia, which may or may not follow a loss of consciousness, usually involves the loss of memory of the event that caused the concussion.
Children
Head trauma is very common in young children. But concussions can be difficult to recognize in infants and toddlers because they may not be able to describe how they feel. Nonverbal clues of a concussion may include:
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Appearing dazed
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Listlessness and tiring easily
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Irritability and crankiness
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Loss of balance and unsteady walking
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Crying excessively
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Change in eating or sleeping patterns
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Lack of interest in favorite toys
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump,blow or jolt to the head or body which makes the brain move quickly back and forth, or torque, and results in any symptoms, or alteration in mental status or neurological functioning. Concussion symptoms generally resolve quickly, but approximately 10% of patients experience symptoms for weeks, months, or longer.
What is a Concussion?
