TBI

Question 1

What is a TBI?

Answer 1

An injury to the brain caused by a trauma to the head.

Question 2

Anoxic Brain Injury

Answer 2

When the brain is deprived of oxygen. Neural cells begin to die through apoptosis. Patients can be left with diminished brain function.

Brain damage can begin after 30 seconds, after two minutes brain damage becomes inevitable. Brain can survive for 4 minutes without oxygen overall.

Question 3

Types of TBI

Answer 3

Closed Head Injuries: Majority of TBIs. Occurs when the brain is rattled or traumatised in the skull (coup-contracoup, concussion, haematoma, contusion).

Open Wound Injuries: Life threatening and occur when there is a blow to the head forceful enough to penetrate the skull.

Crushing Injuries: Brain is compressed between two objects - most damaging and life threatening.

Question 4

Immediate SandS of a TBI

Answer 4

• Confusion
• Changes in consciousness
• Headaches and dizziness
• Vomitting and nausea
• Swelling at site of injury
• Difficulty remembering
• Fluid leaking from eyes, nose, ears

Question 5

What is an ABI

Answer 5

Traumatic - road traffic accidents, slipping/falling, being shaken violently, sports injury, assault

Non-traumatic - stroke, infections, tumours, drug reactions, anoxia