Types of Brain Trauma

Brain trauma is any force that damages the head like an accident or slip and fall. Brain trauma can be mild or severe. Brain trauma can be a slight concussion, or it can lead to severe disabilities, coma or death. The biggest protection from traumatic brain injury is the skull, but strong forces and even violent shaking can cause damage to cells. Even minor trauma can cause the brain to swell and press against the skull. When this happens, the brain loses oxygen and cells die.

Open and Closed Injury

• Open injury trauma is more dangerous, since the inside brain matter contains a barrier, keeping it sterile. When an opened injury occurs, the sterile environment is compromised, and bacteria and microbes can infect the tissue. Closed injury is not as obvious. It's caused by an object hitting the skull. Closed injuries can cause swelling, leading to brain damage and coma.

Focal and Diffuse

• A focal injury is normally caused by a sharp object. Focal trauma is in one area of the brain, and it often causes an opening to occur. Opened injuries have a high chance for stroke in the patient. Diffuse trauma is an injury that happens in several focal points. They can be difficult to diagnose and detect if any major trauma has occurred. Concussions are a type of diffuse injury.

Coupe

• Coupe trauma is the result of the brain hitting against the skull. The most dangerous coupe trauma is when the head is hit in the back of the skull and the brain is forced against the edge areas of the eye and nose. These bony areas are sharp, and they can cut the brain, causing bleeding.

Concussion

• Concussions are graded trauma to the brain. Concussions are graded by the symptoms exhibited by the patient. Minor concussions only cause slight disorientation and confusion. More serious concussions lead to loss of consciousness and neurological damage.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

• DAI injuries occur when white matter is twisted. White matter in the brain contains the axons, which are a group of cells responsible for electrical impulses to nerves. When these cells are traumatized and tear, a loss of functionality in the body is symptomatic. People with these injuries can have speech or movement impairment or severe amnesia.