WHAT IS HEAD INJURY OR NEURO TRAUMA ?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as intracranial injury or Neuro Trauma, occurs when an external force injures the brain.
Types of Head Injury include:
- Concussion
- Skull Fracture
- Intracranial Hematoma (bleeding inside the skull)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
For those who have not lost consciousness, symptoms could include
- nausea, vomiting, giddiness and headache.
For severe intracranial injuries
- severe headache, convulsions, drainage of spinal fluid from the ear or nose, develop weakness or loss of feeling in the extremities, pupillary asymmetry, double vision, or other neurological symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS
- XRays
- CT – Scan (Computed Tomography)
- MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- EEG
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Surgery doesn’t correct the problem in patients with a Closed Head Injury.
A bolt or ICP (intracranial pressure) monitoring device may be placed in the skull to monitor pressure in the brain cavity.
If there has been a bleeding inside the skull, then it needs to be drained.
Blood vessels which are damaged and bleeding, along with tissue need to be repaired.
Extensive swelling and damaged tissue need to be removed so that room can be made for healthy tissue.
In Open Head Injury, there may be a skull fracture that needs to be repaired along with the other problems as in a Closed Head Injury.
The aim of surgical treatment is to prevent swelling and secondary injury to the brain by bleeding and also to maintain good blood supply to the brain.