An injury to the brain may not be uncommon, but that should not make it a thing that can be attended to without closely analyzing the symptoms. No doctor is entitled to prescribe generic medications for headaches and nausea before thoroughly understanding what the patient is experiencing. Dr. Curtis Cripe follows this attitude religiously which is what makes him a veteran in neurodevelopmental practices, particularly for children.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Among the several types of brain injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a rather common one. It refers to the damage sustained by the brain as an impact of an external force on the head of an individual. This could result in a permanent impairment of the brain and its physical, cognitive as well as psychosocial functions. The state of consciousness is reported to have either been diminished or altered in some other way. TBI is non-degenerative and non-congenital as well.
Classification of TBI
Traumatic brain injury can be classified into two categories broadly: closed brain injury and open brain injury. In the first one, the injury occurs only on the skull; it does not reach the brain. The brain is not exposed in this case. For example, with the rapid forward and backward movement of the head, the brain inside keeps moving and slamming on the skull walls. The common day occurrences such as collisions of vehicle fall and violent attacks on the head can cause closed TBI.
The other categories of classification for TBIs are primary and secondary injury. The injury that is induced mechanically is known as the primary injury; while the one which is not is called the secondary injury. The secondary injury could be a later impact due to the initial primary. Dr. Curtis Cripe opines that this could be a superimposed injury on the brain that has already suffered a primary injury.
Mechanism of primary injury
Two main mechanisms work to cause a primary injury:
- When the head and consequently the brain suffers a physical impact by being struck by an object or the banging of the head in some place.
- Due to unrestricted movement of the head in acceleration or deceleration
Impact of primary injury
As a result of the primary injury, the head is physically hurt and the skull may experience a fracture or contusions on the surface. The medical conditions that can be caused by this type of impact say Dr. Curtis Cripe include diffuse vascular injury, intracranial hematoma, and injury to the pituitary stalk or cranial nerves.
Impact of secondary injury
This may not show signs immediately after the primary injury but may result in CBF (cerebral blood flow) after TBI. Hemorrhage, local edema, or increased intracranial pressure are the causes of the decrease in the CBF. There are possibilities of a failure of the cellular ions and thereby an increase in the levels of intracellular sodium and calcium, which in turn contributes to cellular destruction.
Thus, by identifying a TBI with the help of the following physical and cognitive changes one should be able to diagnose and treat it on time. The cognitive changes include problems in memory, problem-solving, decision-making, concentration, and learning. The physical changes that can be noticed include paralysis, loss of stamina, spasticity, control of bladder and bowel movements, and chronic pain.
