Knowra Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury is damage to brain tissue caused by an external mechanical force. Its effects range from brief changes in brain function to lasting physical, cognitive, or emotional impairment.
Primary and Secondary Brain Injury : Primary injury occurs at impact; secondary injury develops afterward through processes such as swelling, ischemia, and inflammation. Separates damage caused by the initial force from damage that evolves after it.
Glasgow Coma Scale : A clinical scale that scores eye, verbal, and motor responses to assess consciousness. Clinicians use it to describe initial injury severity and track changes.
Concussion : A mild traumatic brain injury that temporarily disrupts brain function, often without visible structural damage on routine imaging. It is the mildest commonly recognized form within the broader injury spectrum.
Post-Concussion Syndrome : A cluster of persistent symptoms, such as headaches and concentration problems, following a concussion. It captures symptoms that can continue after the initial injury has resolved.
Diffuse Axonal Injury : Widespread damage to nerve-cell axons caused by rapid acceleration, deceleration, or rotation of the brain. Explains how rotational forces can disrupt connections far from an obvious impact site.
Neuroimaging : Medical imaging methods that reveal the structure or function of the nervous system. CT and MRI help identify bleeding, fractures, and other consequences of head trauma.
Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury : A brain injury in which an object breaches the skull and enters brain tissue. It contrasts with closed injuries caused by impact or acceleration without an object entering the brain.
Cognitive Rehabilitation : Structured therapy that improves or compensates for difficulties in attention, memory, executive function, and related abilities. It addresses cognitive changes that can persist after brain trauma.
Cerebral Contusion : A bruise of brain tissue involving small-vessel bleeding and local tissue damage. Shows the focal tissue damage that can occur when the brain strikes the skull.
Computed Tomography : An imaging method that uses X-rays and computation to create cross-sectional images of the body. A rapid head CT can detect urgent bleeding or skull fractures after injury.
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