Brain Injury

Brain injury comes by several means. Brain injury can come from a traumatic event, such as a fall, motor vehicle accident, or blow to the head. Brian injury also results from a hemorrhage developing in the brain from rupture of a blood vessel, from stroke, infection, or lack of adequate blood flow to the brain.

Immediate treatment is aimed at preventing further brain injury, and creating an environment to allow the brain to recover, if it is able. Invariably, however, brain injured patients experience worsening of their injury over the first 3-4 days from onset. This is because the brain swells slowly over this time period and many with hemorrhage will bleed more after the initial hemorrhage.

All suspected brain injured patients will undergo some imaging studies to determine the severity, nature, and extent of the injury. These are usually a CT &/or MRI scans. If the patient is thought be at high risk for an aneurysm, an arteriogram will be done.

Links

Brain Injury Society

NIH