Traumatic Brain Injury Causes & Treatment in India

What is traumatic brain injury?

Brain dysfunction as a result of any kind of external mechanical force causes traumatic brain injury (TBI). A violent blow or jolt to the head or body is usually the main cause of TBI. In the case of an object entering the skull, such as a bullet, or a piece of the skull itself may also result in TBI.

A severe traumatic brain injury can lead to serious problems like torn brain tissues, bruising, bleeding, and other physical damages to the brain. Mild TBI may result in milder and temporary dysfunction of the brain cells.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms include:

Dazed, confused, or disoriented.
Losing consciousness for a few seconds to minutes.
Headaches and vomiting/nausea.
Difficulty in sleeping or sleeping more than usual.
Blurred vision and ringing in the ear.
Change in ability to smell, or bad taste in the mouth.
Unusual sensitivity to sound or light

Causes

The major causes of this disease are:

Open and close head injury.
Deceleration injury.
Hypoxia (Lack of oxygen).
Tumor
Infection
Stroke

Risks

The people most at risk of this disease are:

Children (especially infants to 5 years of age).
Young adults (15-25 years of age).
Adults (75 and older).

Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of this disease, these are certain things one should take care of:

Wearing seat belts while travelling in vehicles.
Not driving under the effect of alcohol.
Wearing helmets.
Preventing falls.
Preventing head injuries

How is it diagnosed?

At Medanta, our doctor will ask you certain questions to know about your medical history and understand the overall health. A complete neurological examination is also necessary to highlight the pr...

X- Rays
CT Scan
MRI Scan
PET Scan
SPECT(Single photon emission computed tomography)

How is it treated?

At Medanta, our doctors may employ several methods to treat the disease, which may vary on a case-to-case basis:

Emergency Care
In the case of an emergency, the first step of treatment involves preventing any further injury and regulating the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Blood pressures needs to be controlled to avoid further complications
Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy
Speech therapy is used to help the patient with an understanding of the language and producing language. It helps the patient regain the ability to do daily activities efficiently, and live an independent life
Surgery
In the case of ruptured blood vessels or bruised tissues, a surgery is the most effective course of treatment. Other therapies may be recommended post-surgery for complete care and recovery
Counselling
For a better and effective recovery, counselling is also included as a part of treatment for the patient, as well as the family. It is important to understand the changes and implications traumatic brain injury can have on a person’s life, and be able to support these changes. It can be a life altering condition, and requires complete care from all those around the patient

When do I contact the doctor?

Contact a doctor immediately, if you notice any kind of head injury, or you are losing consciousness. Also seek the help from a doctor, in case you notice major symptoms such as a feeling of being confused, difficulty in sleeping, blurred vision, ringing in the ear, unusual sensitivity to sound or light, etc.

Book an Appointment