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Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Definition

A traumatic brain injury, also called an intracranial injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull. This impact can cause the brain to bruise, hemorrhage (bleed) or distort. Nerve damage may also occur as the brain shifts, causing the nerve fibers to tear. In addition, the impact may cause a skull fracture, also called a penetrating head injury.

Brain trauma can be caused by an impact with an object or by acceleration alone. When the head crashes into an object during an accident, the force slows the head down too quickly, causing the brain to slam into the skull, causing mild to severe and life ending injuries. However, trauma may also occur with the head does not strike an object, as in acceleration only head injuries.

Acceleration Injuries (Whiplash)

Acceleration head injuries are often referred to as whiplash, as they occur when the head is accelerated and then decelerated quickly but does not strike an external object such as the cars' dashboard. Whiplash has many, very specific, symptoms. Please read the library item on whiplash for more information.

Statistics

In the United Sates traumatic brain injuries cause over 52,000 deaths per year. Children suffer from brain injuries more than almost any other group. Approximately 475,000 TBI's occur each year in children ages 0-14.

Accurate rates of TBI in the United States are hard to find as many injuries are mild and may not be reported or detected. The National Institutes of Health and Consensus Development Panel of Rehabilitation of Persons with TBI report that between 2.5 and 6.5 Americans live with TBI related disabilities. Each year 1.9 million people sustain a skull fracture or other head injury.

Common Causes

Common causes of head trauma include:

• Motor vehicle (automobile/car) accidents (50% of all TBI's)
• Falls (23-30% of TBI's)
• Firearms (12% of TBI's)
• Work related accidents (45-50% of TBI's)
• Alcohol (associated with the leading causes of TBI's)

Prevention

Traumatic brain injury can be prevented. The following basic tips can help prevent life altering head injuries:

• Seat belts should be worn on every trip- no matter how brief.
• Properly installed and appropriate safety seats must be used by children. Depending on their age a car seat, booster seat or seatbelt must be used every time a child rides in a car.
• Firearms and ammunition should be stored in a locked safe when not in use.
• Avoid falls at home:
• o Install window guards and baby gates when children are present in the home
• o Keep floors free of clutter
• o Secure loose carpet or rugs
• o Use non-slip mats in showers and baths
• o Use a ladder or step stool (not a chair or box) when reaching for high objects
• Helmets should be used while:
• o Riding a bike or motorcycle
• o Playing football or hockey
• o Using skates or a skateboard
• o Batting in softball or baseball
• o Riding a horse
• o Skiing or snowboarding

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