What is a traumatic brain injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that occurs inside the skull as a result of a blow to the head. This condition can be classified as either open or closed TBI, depending on whether or not a layer surrounding the brain is affected.

This brain injury can have serious cognitive, behavioral, and motor consequences. “What’s important is to recognize it and be able to distinguish it from a skull contusion, which generally may cause localized pain but does not affect the brain.”

It is common for children and adolescents to experience head contusions, which usually do not pose a major risk since the contents inside the skull are not affected. However, in some cases, a head injury can turn into a serious condition: a traumatic brain injury.

What are its types?

Traumatic brain injury is classified into two types: open and closed. This classification is not related to the severity of the injury, but rather to the type of damage caused to the skull. Both are differentiated as follows:

Type of injury

• Open traumatic brain injury: refers to the disruption of the meninges that cover the brain due to trauma. These meningeal layers are damaged, leading to the loss of cerebrospinal fluid.
• Closed traumatic brain injury: occurs when there is no rupture of the meninges as a result of the impact.

Victim’s level of consciousness

• Mild traumatic brain injury:
  • Loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 minutes
  • Upon waking, the person is responsive to stimuli and answers questions.
  • Moves normally.
  • It is normal to have episodes of memory loss that will gradually subside.
  • Memory recovery is practically complete.
• Moderate traumatic brain injury:
  • Although conscious, the person does not respond to stimuli.
  • Difficulty speaking, staying alert, and appears drowsy or in a stuporous state.
  • Specific memory losses.
  • Lack of concentration.
  • Headaches.
  • In some cases, hospitalization or surgical intervention will be needed.
• Severe traumatic brain injury:
  • The patient is in a coma.
  • Does not respond to any stimuli and does not wake up.
  • Urgent medical attention is absolutely necessary.
  • Recovery is long and difficult, and never complete.

How to identify a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury does not always present with loss of consciousness. In fact, most people who suffer these injuries never lose consciousness. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury vary depending on the severity of the impact, bearing in mind that the most serious cases require immediate medical attention.

Mild symptoms:

• Altered level of consciousness (drowsiness, difficulty waking up, or similar changes)
• Confusion, feeling absent, or not thinking clearly.
• Headache.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Memory loss or amnesia of events before the injury or immediately after the person regains consciousness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Seeing flashing lights.
• Feeling of having lost periods of time.

Severe symptoms:

• Changes in mental clarity and consciousness.
• Seizure or convulsions.
• Muscle weakness on one or both sides of the body.
• Persistent confusion.
• Persistent loss of consciousness or coma.
• Repeated vomiting.
• Unequal pupils.
• Unusual eye movements.
• Abnormalities in gait.

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