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Conditions
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Treatments of the
BRAIN
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TRAUMA
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs
when a sudden physical assault on the head causes damage to the
brain. The damage can be focal, confined to one area of the brain,
or diffuse, involving more than one area of the brain. TBI can
result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. A
closed head injury occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits
an object, but the object does not break through the skull. A
penetrating head injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and
enters the brain tissue. Several types of traumatic injuries can
affect the head and brain. A skull fracture occurs when the bone of
the skull cracks or breaks. A depressed skull fracture occurs when
pieces of the broken skull press into the tissue of the brain. This
can cause bruising of the brain tissue, called a contusion. A
contusion can also occur in response to shaking of the brain within
the confines of the skull, an injury called "countrecoup."
Shaken baby syndrome is a severe form of head injury that occurs
when a baby is shaken forcibly enough to cause extreme countrecoup
injury. Damage to a major blood vessel within the head can cause a
hematoma, or heavy bleeding into or around the brain. The severity
of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to the extremes of coma or
even death. A coma is a profound or deep state of unconsciousness.
Symptoms of a TBI may include headache, nausea, confusion or other
cognitive problems, a change in personality, depression,
irritability, and other emotional and behavioral problems. Some
people may have seizures as a result of a TBI.
SOURCE: National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Brain Injury Association
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