A traumatic brain injury, often called a TBI, is an injury that affects your brain after you receive a blow to the head or other trauma. However, the phrase “brain injury” is widely used to refer to a range of brain injuries, each of which can occur in various ways.

You must identify the type of brain damage you suffered to obtain the appropriate medical care. 

4 Types of Brain Injuries 

The correct categorization and treatment of a brain injury will be crucial for your brain injury recovery.

1. Concussions

The most frequent kind of traumatic brain damage is a concussion. During a concussive event, your brain travels in the direction of a powerful force until it collides with your skull and injures you.

Concussions were once thought of as minor inconveniences, but physicians now treat them seriously. The effects of a concussion can be moderate to severe, and in some situations, they might even last a lifetime.

Post-concussion syndrome has most likely occurred if concussion symptoms last more than a month. Fortunately, post-concussion syndrome therapies can help you control the condition.

2. Brain Hemorrhages

Uncontrolled bleeding on the brain’s surface or within the brain tissue is referred to as a brain hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhages are those that happen in the region around the brain, whereas intracerebral hemorrhages start inside the cerebral tissue.

Hemorrhages are one type of focal, or localized, traumatic brain injury. Although these injuries often result in less severe damage than other TBIs, they can still be fatal if not treated quickly.

3. Anoxic Brain Injuries

Anoxic brain damage happens when the brain does not have enough oxygen to function correctly. An interruption in the flow of blood carrying oxygen to the brain is the leading cause of anoxic brain injury. Brain harm can happen after just four to five minutes without the right amount of oxygen.

Brain shifting can cause diffuse axonal damage (DAI), which is akin to a concussion but frequently more severe. With DAI, the head moves so quickly that the brain stem cannot keep up, tearing the connections between the brain and the spinal cord. These rips can range from relatively big to minuscule, causing varying degrees of brain injury.

4. Second Impact Syndrome

Also referred to as repeated head injury syndrome, second impact syndrome (SIS) occurs when a person has a second head injury before fully recovering from the first. The danger is especially significant for athletes who have a concussion and return to play immediately. 

Clinicians should be aware of SIS and educate patients who have had or are at risk of having a head injury because the syndrome is frequently fatal, even though it’s an uncommon disorder.

The Levels and Severity of Traumatic Brain Injuries 

Based on the severity of the injury, doctors often divide traumatic brain injury into four major categories. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), a rating system based on the person’s degree of consciousness following the TBI, is used to assess the severity.

There are 15 points in the GCS. Each point evaluates a different function, such as vocal response and the degree of eye opening. A person with a higher level of function will have a higher point total, indicating less serious damage. 

The four potential degrees of severity are:

  • Mild TBI: 13-15 points
  • Moderate disability: 9-12 points
  • Severe disability: 4-8 points
  • Persistent vegetative state: 3 points

The rehabilitation process may take longer if brain damage is more serious. 

Contact the Oklahoma City Brain Injury Lawyers at McGuire Law Firm Today for Free Consultation

For more information, please contact the Oklahoma City brain injury law firm of McGuire Law Firm at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve throughout Oklahoma and its surrounding areas:

 

McGuire Law Firm – Edmond
200 E 10th Street Plaza
Edmond, OK 73034
United States
(405) 513-5658