What Are The Different Types Of Brain Injuries?

Suffering a head trauma in a serious accident is likely a life-altering event for residents in Montana and elsewhere. Many brain injuries have long-term effects, impacting a victim in a wide range of ways. In some cases, a brain injury could be so debilitating that the victims are unable to work or enjoy their quality of life. In other situations, a brain injury could only have short-term effects, causing the victim to endure symptoms for a year or less.

What are the different types of brain injuries? Brain injuries are not created equally and each one of them is unique. The severity of the injury is dependent on the type of force and the amount of force that the head and the area of the head impacted. These factors could result in one or several functional areas of the brain being harmed or damaged.

Although concussions are considered a less severe brain injury, this type of head trauma does have the tendency to cause substantial difficulties or impairments that could last the entire life of a victim. This type of head trauma can be the result of a direct blow to the head, a gunshot wound, the violent shaking of the head or from whiplash in a car accident.

A contusion, which is a bruise or bleeding on the brain, occurs when there is a direct impact to the head of a victim. If contusions are large, they may need to be removed. Another brain injury is diffuse axonal. This is commonly caused by the shaking or strong rotation of the head. Such an injury causes the brain structures and nerve tissues to tear. This could result in brain chemicals being released, which could cause temporary or permanent widespread damage.

Finally, a brain injury could be the result of a penetrating injury. This could occur from the impact of a bullet, knife or other sharp objects. This injury could force hair, skin, bones and fragments from the object into the brain. Such an injury could cause the shearing, stretching and rupture of brain tissue.

Regardless of the type of brain injury, a victim will likely require medical treatment to address the concerns and symptoms associated with the injury. Additionally, if a victim suffers a severe brain injury, that person will likely require long-term care. If a negligent party is the cause of an accident that produced a brain injury, it may be possible to hold that party liable.

Source: Biau.org, “Types and Levels of Brain Injury,” accessed April 9, 2017