Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a strong mechanical force transmitted to the head that causes dysfunction to the neurological system, consequently causing neuropathology. The US department of Veteran’s Affairs has defined a TBI as a traumatically induced structural injury or disruption of normal brain function resulting from an external force that causes loss of consciousness, memory deficits, alterations in mental state during the state of injury and neurological deficits, such as loss if balance and sensory loss. The injury can be caused a blow, jolt or bump to the head. According to the CDC, in the year 2010, it was estimated that TBI roughly accounts for 2.5 million hospitalizations and deaths in the emergency departments. Out …show more content…
The GCS is used to provide an assessment of impaired conscious levels by scaling one’s ability to perform the following functions: eye opening, verbal response and motor response. Mild TBIs (mTBIs) score 13-15 on the GCS and constitute about 75-85% of all TBIs (CDC, 2003). An example of mTBI is the concussions that are usually suffered during sports activities, like boxing, American football, wrestling, etc. While Majority of mTBI patients have full neurological recovery, about 15-30% of them suffer impairments in neurocognition (Daneshvar et al., 2011). TBIs that score between 9 and 13 on the GCS are moderate. Moderate TBI patients are completely stuporous and lethargic; while some of its symptoms are identical to that of mTBIs, the symptoms do not easily go away and might progressively worsen as time goes on. Patients who score 3-8 on the GCS are considered to have suffered a severe TBI. Symptomatic patients are comatose and are unable to respond to any form of stimuli; they are unable to open their eyes, control any of their motor movements or follow any kind of command. When compared to the others, Severe TBI patients are at a higher predisposition to suffer from secondary brain injuries, like hydrocephalus and hypoxic damage (Hukkelhoven et al., …show more content…
After trauma, there is an excess release of glutamate anions, disruption in the normal flow of ions, abnormal glucose metabolism, and changes in blood flow. When there is trauma to the head, a cascade of neurochemical events is initiated (Giza & Hovda, 2011). There is a disruption of neuronal cell membranes, consequently causing a flux of ions through regulated ion channels. There is then a release of excitatory neurotransmitters, causing more ionic influx. The Na+/K+ ATP-dependent pump is then forced to work at its full potential; energy stores are then depleted. The cascade could cause permanent brain damage or cerebral hypofunction (Giza & Hovda, 2011). Apoptosis, axonal damage and disconnection, impaired neurotransmission and abnormal responsiveness to stimuli consequently occur (Giza & Hovda,

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