Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a group of injuries that happen from external damage to the head or brain. As a group, TBIs are a leading cause of disability and death. However, while people discuss TBIs as a whole, there are actually many different types of TBIs. Understanding the various types of traumatic brain injuries in Veterans can help someone understand the long-term prognosis and the degree of disability.
While the type of TBI is essential, it only tells part of the story. Medical professionals also need to understand the treatment history, patient’s recovery curve, and severity of the injury to help determine the prognosis. The lawyers at Fight4Vets can then use that information to help make a case for disability payments for a Veteran.
There are two main types of TBI—closed brain injuries and penetrating injuries. Closed brain injuries occur when there is a brain injury without a break in the skull, such as bruising, damage to blood vessels, or internal damage. They can happen when the brain impacts the inside of the skull, like when there is a shaking or jolting motion to the head. They can also happen when there is a blow to the skull.
The action is known as coup-contrecoup. A bruise that is linked to trauma at the site of impact is a coup lesion or coup injury. A bruise that is the result of the brain impacting the skull on the opposite side from the impact is a contrecoup lesion. People with closed brain injuries can have coup lesions, contrecoup lesions, or both.
Penetrating brain injuries occur when there is a break in the skull. Gunshot wounds are the clearest example of a penetrating brain injury. However, anything that results in an open head that penetrates the skull qualifies as this type of brain injury.
The cause of the brain injury does not necessarily dictate the severity of the injury. In addition to the usual causes of TBIs in Veterans, the location and the extent of the injury can influence the severity as well.
Some people with TBIs may have a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). DAIs involve the tearing of the brain’s axons—long connective nerve fibers—and are among the most severe of all TBIs. They usually happen when the brain rotates or moves inside the skull, tearing the fibers. These injuries lead to damage in multiple parts of the brain. They can lead to coma or other severe symptoms. However, they can also be complicated to diagnose. The changes in the brain can be microscopic, which means that they may not show up in imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging scans(MRIs) or computed tomography scans (CT scans).
Primary brain injuries are injuries that occur entirely—or almost completely—at the time of the impact. Penetrating brain injuries often have primary brain injuries. While they may grow worse over time, they generally show immediate symptoms that are as significant as the injuries will be.
Secondary brain injuries are those that worsen over time. Many brain injuries progress in severity. Swelling and other changes can exacerbate the initial injury, leading to chemical, cellular, or tissue damage. Blood vessel change can also result in oxygen deprivation, causing hypoxia—low oxygen—or anoxia—lack of oxygen. Sometimes, doctors can help Veterans avoid the secondary type of brain injury as long as medical care is immediate and comprehensive.
Unfortunately, regardless of the type of TBI, Veterans with head injuries have a guarded prognosis. Brain cells do not generally regenerate, but sometimes, the other areas of the brain will take over for functions of the injured area. This type of recovery is more likely in younger people, but it is not guaranteed for anyone.
Because recovery is uncertain, Veterans with TBIs need continued access to high-quality medical care. Disability determinations can help people get or retain access to the medical care they need.
While people often speak of TBIs as a single type of injury, it is actually a catch-all term describing a range of different injuries. Understanding the different types of traumatic brain injuries in Veterans can help them get the benefits they need to deal with the physical, emotional, and financial impact of their condition. An attorney at Fight4Vets can help you learn more and explore your remedies.
