Doctors classify Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) into three categories based on the severity of the injury.
- Mild TBI
- Moderate TBI
- Severe TBI
Each of the three forms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) display different symptoms.
Mild TBI
Otherwise known as a concussion, mild TBI is more difficult to diagnose both in civilian life and on the military battlefield.
With mild TBI patients, full recovery can be within minutes to hours; a small percentage have symptoms that may persist months or years.
Symptoms of mild TBI include headache, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, trouble concentrating, memory problems, irritability.
Moderate TBI
Moderate TBI patients have the most variability in their symptoms. There is usually loss of consciousness, from an hour to a day; there can be confusion for days to weeks. Mental or physical deficits that can last months or be permanent.
Severe TBI
Severe TBI usually results from a significant closed head injury, as in an automobile accident or most open or penetrating injuries, where there may be considerable residual deficits of brain function.
A severe TBI could impact speech, sensory, vision and cognitive functions and could lead to difficulties with attention, memory, concentration and impulse control.
Initial Diagnosis and Treatment of TBI
The DOD has an exposure screening program for service members returning from theater. Exposures to events that carry a risk of TBI will trigger further evaluation and possibly yield a referral to a specialist. This will complement the VA screening program.
DoD and VA share medical data to ensure care providers have all the information they need to diagnose and treat a TBI.
The initial focus is to stabilize the injured person to minimize secondary complications. As a patient enters a care facility, initial medical treatment goals include ensuring proper oxygen and blood flow to the brain and body, stabilizing blood pressure, and treating any problems or conditions affecting other parts of the body (besides the brain) that have arisen because of the injury.
After individuals with TBI have been stabilized, treatment generally moves to rehabilitation to teach patients to cope with their symptoms.
Rehabilitation of TBI Patients
Depending on the severity of the TBI, a rehabilitation team may consist of:
- Physical Therapists - help patients regain their coordination, flexibility, and range of motion, and to address pain and stiffness
- Occupational Therapists - help patients relearn how to perform the simple activities of daily living
- Neuropsychologists - testing of patients' functional abilities helps the health care team identify specific areas of cognitive functioning that require specific rehabilitative efforts, and then measure progress toward addressing deficits
- Psychiatrists - help patients manage cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms
Brain injury rehabilitation is designed to help achieve as much independence as possible. More severe brain injuries may require a variety of approaches to care. Additional factors include patient care coordination; provider, patient and family education; and emerging medical technologies that enhance TBI care.
Each brain injury and recovery is different, and the brain has a remarkable way to adjust after injury. It is critical to know the symptoms and to seek treatment before there is a chance for more serious complications to occur.
For more information about TBI, visit the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.
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