L1.2.1.2.1: Traumatic Brain Injuries

• ● TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

  ○ A major cause of disability and death globally

  ○ Caused not only by injury at the site of blow but also by the effect of ricocheting brain hitting the opposite end of the skull
• ● TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

  CONCUSSION

  ● Brain injury is slight

  ● Victim may be: dizzy, see stars, or lose consciousness briefly

  ● Little permanent brain damage occurs
• ● TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

  CONTUSION

  ● Results from marked tissue destruction

  ● If cerebral cortex is injured, the victim may remain conscious

  ● If reticular activating system is injured, the victim will have severe brain stem contusion and will result in a coma, lasting from hours to a lifetime
• ● TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

  After head blows, death may result from:

  • INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE — bleeding from ruptured vessels
  • CEREBRAL EDEMA — swelling of the brain due to inflammatory response to injury