The quantity of people with (TBIs) Traumatic Brain Injuries is difficult to assess but is much larger than most people would expect. According to the CDC, there are approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. who suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year. Approximately 50,000 of those people die from their sustained TBI each year and approximately 85,000 people experieince long term suffering and disabilities. In the United States, more than 5.3 million people live with disabilities caused or related to a Traumatic Brain Injury. Patients admitted to a hospital for TBI are included in these statistics, while those treated in an emergency room or doctor’s office are not counted.
There are many possible causes of a TBI but the top three are: car accident, firearms and falls. Falls account for almost half of all Traumatic Brain Injuries. Firearm injuries are the most fatal with 9 out of 10 people dying from their injuries. Young adults and the elderly are the two largest demographic groups at a highest risk for TBI. Along with a traumatic brain injury, people are also susceptible to spinal injuries that can result out of vehicle crashes, firearms and falls. Prevention of TBI is the best approach since there is no cure.
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The following mechanisms are the highest causes of brain injury…
1. Open Head Injury
- Results from bullet wounds, etc.
- Largely focal damage
- Defined by the penetration of the skull
- Effects can be just as serious or even more-so than closed brain injury
2. Closed Head Injury
- Often resulting from a slip and fall, motor vehicle crashes, etc.
- Focal damage and diffuse damage
- Effects tend to be broad
- Defined by the non-penetration of the skull
3. Deceleration Injuries
The skull is hard and rigid while the brain is soft with the consistency of gelatin. The brain is encased inside the skull for protection. During the movement of the skull through space (acceleration) and the rapid discontinuation of this action when the skull meets a stationary object (deceleration) can cause the brain to shift its position inside the skull. The brain moves at a different rate than the skull because it is soft. Different parts of the brain move at different speeds because of their relative mass and resulting inertia. The differential movement of the skull and the brain when the head is struck results in direct brain injury, due to diffuse axonal shearing, contusion and brain swelling.
4. Chemical / Toxic
- These types of injuries are also known as metabolic disorders
- This occurs when harmful chemicals damage neurons
- Chemicals and toxins that cause these TBIs can include insecticides, solvents, carbon monoxide poisoning, lead poisoning, etc.
5. Hypoxia (Lack of Oxygen)
- If the blood flow is depleted of oxygen, then irreversible brain injury can occur from anoxia (no oxygen) or hypoxia (reduced oxygen)
- It can take as little as a few minutes for this to occur
- These conditions may be caused by heart attacks, medical malpractice, respiratory failure, drops in blood pressure and a low oxygen environment
- This type of brain injury can cause severe cognitive and memory deficits
6. Tumors
- Tumors caused by cancer can grow on or around the brain
- Tumors can cause brain injury by invading the spaces of the brain and causing direct damage
- Damage can result from pressure effects around an enlarged tumor
- The surgical procedures to remove the tumor may also contribute to brain injury
7. Infections
- The brain and its surrounding membranes are very prone to infections if the special blood-brain protective system is breached
- Viruses and bacteria can cause serious and life-threatening diseases of the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis)
8. Stroke
- If blood flow is blocked through a cerebral vascular accident (stroke), cell death in the area deprived of blood will result
- If there is bleeding in or over the brain (hemorrhage or hematoma) because of a tear in an artery or vein, loss of blood flow and injury to the brain tissue by the blood will also result in brain damage.