Traumatic Brain Injury
Linantud, Jessa Marie
Mendoza, Dex Ann Marie
Mission, Ruth
Navarro, Caseyline
Tavu, Allyza May
Etiology
Epidemiology
A World Health Organization study estimated that between
70 and 90% of head injuries that receive treatment are
mild, and a US study found that moderate and severe
injuries each account for 10% of TBIs, with the rest mild.
The incidence of TBI varies by age, gender, region and other
factors. Findings of incidence andprevalence in
epidemiological studies vary based on such factors as which
grades of severity are included, whether deaths are
included, whether the study is restricted to hospitalized
people, and the study's location. The annual incidence of
mild TBI is difficult to determine but may be 100–600
people per 100,000.
Mortality
In the US, the mortality (death rate) rate is estimated
to be 21% by 30 days after TBI. A study on Iraq War
soldiers found that severe TBI carries a mortality of
30–50%.
Biological, clinical, and demographic factors
contribute to the likelihood that an injury will be
fatal. In addition, outcome depends heavily on the
cause of head injury. In the US, patients with fall-
related TBIs have an 89% survival rate, while only 9%
of patients with firearm-related TBIs survive. In the
US, firearms are the most common cause of fatal TBI,
followed by vehicle accidents and then falls. Of deaths
from firearms, 75% are considered to be suicides.
Each year in the United States about two
million people suffer a TBI and about 500,000
are hospitalized. The yearly incidence of TBI
is estimated at 180–250 per 100,000 people
in the US, 281 per 100,000 in France, 361 per
100,000 in South Africa, 322 per 100,000 in
Australia, and 430 per 100,000 in England. In
the European Union the yearly aggregate
incidence of TBI hospitalizations and fatalities
is estimated at 235 per 100,000
Demographics
TBI is present in 85% of traumatically injured
children, either alone or with other
injuries. The greatest number of TBIs occur in
people aged 15–24.
The age groups most at risk for TBI are
children ages five to nine and adults over age
80, and the highest rates of death and
hospitalization due to TBI are in people over
age 65.
Regardless of age, TBI rates are higher in
males.
However, when matched for severity of injury,
women appear to fare more poorly than men.
Socioeconomic status also appears to affect
TBI rates; people with lower levels of
education and employment and lower
socioeconomic status are at greater risk.
Signs and Symptoms
Mild TBI
Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed,
confused or disoriented
Memory or concentration problems
Headache
Dizziness or loss of balance
Nausea or vomiting
Sensory problems (blurred vision, ringing in the ears or a bad
taste in the mouth)
Sensitivity to light or sound
Mood changes or mood swings
Feeling depressed or anxious
Fatigue or drowsiness
Difficulty sleeping
Sleeping more than usual
Moderate to severe TBI
Loss of consciousness from a few minutes to hours
Profound confusion
Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
Slurred speech
Inability to awaken from sleep
Weakness or numbness in the extremities
Loss of coordination
Loss of bladder control or bowel control
Persistent headache or headache that worsens
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Convulsions or seizures
Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
Children's symptoms
Change in nursing or eating habits
Persistent crying
Unusual or easy irritability
Change in ability to pay attention
Inability to be consoled
Change in sleep habits
Sad or depressed mood
Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities
Treatment for TBI
There are three stages of treatment
for brain injury:
Acute—to stabilize the patient immediately
after the injury;
Subacute—to rehabilitate and return the
patient to the community; and
Chronic—to continue rehabilitation and treat
the long-term impairments.
Acute Treatment for TBI
Initial acute treatment focuses on saving the
victim's life.
Several types of TBI require surgery.
During acute treatment, swelling in the brain
(edema) is monitored and treated.
A buildup of fluid inside the brain is also a
concern in acute treatment.
Seizures may occur seconds, weeks, or years
after TBI.
Another important aspect of acute care is
the prevention of other medical problems.
Subacute Treatment for TBI
The main goals of subacute
treatment are
early detection of complications,
facilitation of neurological and functional
recovery, and
prevention of additional injury.
Chronic Treatment for TBI
There are two categories of chronic
treatment:
Community-based rehabilitation and return
to work or school, and
Treatment of long-term consequences of the
injury.
References
http://
www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain
-injury/DS00552/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.neurologychannel.com/tbi/treat
ment.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_brain
_injury
