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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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A mild traumatic brain injury is also known as a concussion. In a concussion, the brain is jarred to such a degree that loss of consciousness or amnesia for the event can occur. Mild traumatic brain injuries can occur with a car accident, sporting accident or fall. Any blow to the scalp or head can cause a concussion. It actually doesn't take contact with the head to cause a concussion. A sudden acceleration/deceleration in jury from shaken baby syndrome or a car accident can cause a concussion to develop. If you've had a head injury in the past, you are more likely to get a head injury in the future.
Concussions have the propensity to be major or minor. The hallmark of a mild traumatic brain injury is the interference of brain function for a limited period of time. Reflexes, memory, judgment, balance, coordination and speech can all be affected in different ways. Loss of consciousness does not have to be a factor to call a concussion a concussion.
Concussions are not uncommon, especially if you play contact sports like hockey and football. After a concussion, your brain needs time to heal and you need to rest before going back to the sport or activity.
The symptom and signs of a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury might not show up right away. You can have the symptoms for minutes to days or even weeks. Some people have lasting symptoms. Common symptoms include amnesia for the event and confusion. The amnesia can last longer than a few minutes but usually involves amnesia of what happened. Other signs and symptoms include headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, slurred speech and fatigue. Hours or days later, you can notice problems with memory or concentration, sleep disturbance, depression, irritability and sensitivity to light and noise.
Kids can get concussions, especially very young children who are prone to falls. Look for signs of irritability, listlessness, a change in eating and sleeping patterns, los of balance or lack of interest in favorite things. It can be extremely difficult to judge whether or not an infant has had a concussion or not. If the symptoms last longer than an hour or you see nausea, vomiting, prolonged headache or balance difficulties, it is time to see the doctor and get some help for the concussion. Any time there is loss of consciousness associated with seizures and changes in coordination, it is time for a medical opinion. Discharge or bleeding from the nose or ears needs medical attention.
Long term symptoms include a condition called postconcussion syndrome that can last for weeks and months. There is twice the chance of having a seizure disorder after having a mild traumatic brain injury. Many concussions over the course of time can result in cumulative neurological injury. This can be linked to getting Alzheimer's disease in the distant future.
When you see the doctor for a head injury like a concussion, the doctor will perform a neurological exam to check out the balance, memory, judgment and reflexes. A CT scan or MRI scan of the head can be done to see if there is any fracture or bleeding in the brain as a result of the head injury. Usually such tests are negative in mild traumatic brain injury.
A CT scan of the head is not required in every concussion; however, if you fell from a height of more than one meter, are older than age 65, were involved in an MVA (motor vehicle accident) or were unable to recall the accident for at least half an hour, you may need a CT scan. If alcohol was involved or if you had vomiting and short term memory loss, you may need a CT scan. If you had a seizure or other injuries, a CT scan may be indicated.
Treatment for a concussion includes the possibility of an overnight stay for observation. Rest is imperative to allow your head to mend. Pain medications may be necessary if there is residual headache. A rest from sports for a few days or a week may also be necessary.