Types Of Brain Injuries

Did you know that the human brain has a similar texture to gelatin? The brain’s extremely delicate consistency necessitates the skull’s protection from the outside environment. The skull’s protection does not prevent the brain from being damaged. Internal factors may cause the brain to be harmed in some situations. There are two types of brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and non-traumatic acquired brain injuries (ABI), depending on the source.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are due to an external force that disrupts the brain’s activity. The most prevalent causes of traumatic brain injuries include motor vehicle accidents, falls, physical assaults, and sports-related incidents. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, approximately 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur each year in the United States. The association also claims that 5.3 million Americans have a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. 

Traumatic brain injuries can be classified into the following categories:

• Concussion

Concussions are a relatively prevalent traumatic brain injury. They happen when the brain’s function changes as a result of the brain striking the skull’s inner walls.

• Edema

Edema is the formation of tissue in response to an injury to the brain. Any traumatic brain injury can cause edema, which causes pressure on the brain due on its inability to expand.

• Diffuse Axonal Injury

Damage to the axons of brain cells in a diffuse axonal injury prevents them from operating properly. A diffuse axonal injury does not produce bleeding, although it might cause swelling. This sort of harm may eventually result in a loss of certain capabilities.

• Hematoma

A hematoma is a type of blood accumulation in the brain caused by the rupture of a blood vessel. There are various forms of hematoma, each with its own set of characteristics.

• Skull Fracture

However, skull fractures are uncommon and can lead to brain function changes and possible infection if they do occur. Thin fractures are generally observed carefully, whereas depressed fractures or those that are leaking cerebrospinal fluid necessitate surgical treatment.

Non-Traumatic Acquired Brain Injuries

Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by internal factors, such as a loss of oxygen, poison exposure, or pressure from a tumor on the brain, whereas traumatic brain injuries are due to external forces. Non-traumatic brain injuries are generally caused by stroke, aneurysm, tumor, near drowning, contagious disease, and a lack of oxygen to the brain. They are known as non-traumatic acquired brain injuries or ABI.

Hemorrhage 

A TBI or a severe head injury can induce bleeding inside the brain (intracerebral) or between the brain’s tissues (subarachnoid). A TBI causes a brain hemorrhage, however an ABI-related burst aneurysm is generally considered to be the cause. An aneurysm is a swollen blood vessel in the brain.

Hypoxic/Anoxic Brain Injury

When there is a lack of oxygen to part of the brain, it’s known as a hypoxic brain injury, whereas when there isn’t any oxygen in that region, it’s known as an anoxic brain injury. Natural breathing patterns are typically disrupted as the cause of both these conditions.

Stroke

The brain is deprived of blood flow, and brain cells begin to die as a result of a stroke. Strokes are generally caused by an obstruction in one of the arteries leading to the brain (ischemic). They can also be induced by a temporary clot, known as a transient ischemic attack.