Diffuse Axonal Injury And Its Effects

With the latter of the two of them all being the more frequent causes of brain injury. It has never been clear exactly on how much damage is done and how the symptoms are caused when the injury happens. There has been reported that there is cellular damage that happens in the concussed brain. Currently it is thought that structural and neuropsychiatric factors may be responsible for these effects.

As we all know, the human brain is the most insubstantial and vital organ in the human body as it is the command center for every other body part (newscientist.com). Any slight wound to this organ could lead to severe consequences usually encountered at that very moment. It may be an extremely low chance of a major head injury, but it does happen to millions of people annually. One single concussion, provided with the lack of healing, could lead to short-term and long-term memory loss, depression,

How an injury to the head can do damage to the brain varies. Brain swelling and disruption of blood supply are some direct causes of damage (Kolb & Whishaw, 2009). However, neurological damage develops after (also known as secondary injuries) the immediate moment of impact (Ghajar, 2000). In other words even minor head injuries can lead to lasting disabilities and that the injuries are amassed. Meaning that a minor injury can result in a major impairment (Ponsford, Sloan, & Snow, 2012).

The brain is a fragile organ. It is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a shock absorber for minor impacts (Sports Concussion Institute). A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. These types of impacts are usually received during a sport, car accident, fall, etc. Cerebrospinal fluid is not enough to protect the brain.

It was September 30th, 2004. Former Pittsburgh Steeler Justin Strzelczyk drove his Ford pickup drunk the wrong way across highway I-90 colliding head-on with a tanker truck and died on impact (Finder). Justin wasn’t on drugs or drinking(Finder). Justin had a bipolar disorder from concussions from when he played football (Finder). According to WebMD “The brain is made of soft tissue. It's cushioned by spinal fluid and encased in the protective shell of the skull. When you sustain a concussion, the impact can jolt your brain. Sometimes, it literally causes it to move around in your head. Traumatic brain injuries can cause bruising, damage to the blood vessels, and injury to the nerves” (Lava). In a short and sweet version; it is a bruise to the brain. Concussions also have different levels

The frontal cortex is the repository of the highest order cognitive functions. Being at the front of the head, it is susceptible to damage in frontal collisions, as it endures the highest-force portion of the trauma prior to dissipation (Stein, Alvarez, & McKee, 2015). Repeated concussion of the brain kills neurons, which may be an attempt by the brain to compensate for the injury or heal (Borich, 2013). Regardless, killing off large numbers of neurons is degeneration of the brain, and persistent concussion that kills many neurons impedes core higher order brain functions. Long-term brain damage from concussion has diverse symptoms that include convulsions, seizures, depression, cognitive degradation/impairment, and psychosis (Stein, Alvarez, & McKee, 2015).

In order to understand the origin of concussions, one must first understand how the head is affected by contact forces. When the head strikes or is struck by an object, both contact and inertial forces are applied to head (Meaney). These forces can cause injury to the brain both in close proximity to the impact zone or at more distant points. Focal forces are related to head injuries such as skull fractures and can cause stress waves that cause fractures at a distance from the impact zone where the skull has reduces structural properties. The primary cause of concussive injuries is large acceleration of the brain due to inertial forces. Due to how the head moves, the head undergoes both linear and rotational acceleration during impact. It has been found that linear accelerations correspond to increased pressure within the brain. This increased pressures causes neurologic dysfunction. The rotational acceleration component of impact is caused by rapid head rotations. These accelerations create shear forces in the brain . Further studies have shown that brain tissue deforms more severely in response to shear forces (Arash). Shear deformation caused by rotational acceleration is widely accepted as the primary mechanism in concussive injury.

Cerebrospinal fluid provides a protective cushion, and it can be found surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Even everyday movements of the head can lightly nudge the brain. A violent impact or rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head can cause the brain to rotate and strike the inside of the skull, and this is a reason why sports cause so many concussions. This injury compresses the brain and sends shock waves breaking away from the point of impact. The impact force stretches or tears neuronal axons, resulting in a mild form of the traumatic brain injury called diffuse axonal shearing. This injury compromises normal brain function because it interrupts communication between neurons. Physical symptoms of concussion include a headache, nausea, poor muscle coordination, dizziness, light sensitivity and blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and loss of consciousness. Some cognitive and emotional symptoms include disorientation, confusion, amnesia, inability to focus and concentrate, irritability, and depression. There are treatments for a concussion, but it depends on the severity and duration of

This “involves either the head striking a hard surface or a rapidly moving object striking the head. The dura mater remains intact and brain tissues are not exposed to the environment”(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 582). Closed (blunt) trauma can be classified as primary (injury results from the initial anatomical and physiological insult usually direct trauma to the head) and secondary (results from hypotension, hypoxia, acidosis, edema, or factors that can secondarily damage brain tissue)(Rangel-Castilla, 2014, p. 2). It can also cause mild concussion (characterized by immediate but transitory clinical manifestations) and classic cerebral concussion (any loss consciousness accompanied by retrograde and anterograde amnesia)(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 587). The degrees of concussions

Melanie Reece presented on Blast induced neurotrauma, which can cause damage to the brain and cause permanent damage. Research regarding Blast induced Neurotrauma started around WW1, most cases were regarding shell shock. Blast induced traumatic brain injury (BINT) can cause damaging effects that linger on, after the initial shock, mainly due to the impact on specific areas in the brain. BINT’s have different types of severity, ranging from mild to severe.

It is also unclear if it is the brain injury itself that causes the result and if it is the same for healthy people.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), or intracranial injury, is a medical diagnosis which refers to closed or penetrative damage to the brain that is caused by an external source. Every year, TBIs affect approximately 150-250 people in a population of 100,000 (León-Carrión, Domínguez-Morales, Martín, & Murillo-Cabezas, 2005). The leading causes of TBI are traffic accidents, work injuries, sports injuries, and extreme violence (León-Carrión et al., 2005). TBI is most often fatal when the cause is an injury due to the use of firearms, a traffic accident, or a long fall (León-Carrión et al., 2005). However, fatality rates and rates of occurrence differ in various countries due to

Traumatic Brain Injury is otherwise known as TBI. “Traumatic brain injury, a form of acquired brain injury, occurs when sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue” (NINDS, 2010). There are two main types of TBI, closed head injuries such as head hitting a windshield and penetrating head injuries such as a gunshot wound. As reported by the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation,” The severity of traumatic brain injuries is often assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale, with scores ranging from 3 to 15. The higher the score,

The damaged brain is the result of a whiplash injury, typically cause by a vehicular accident. This injury can lead to cerebral vascular issues, brain lesions, neurological disorders, or traumatic brain injuries (Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun, 2014). The textbook source provides background information on specific deficits to certain areas of the brain. The symptoms of the injury are the most difficult to live with, as they can show issues with concentration, sleep, depression, and menstruation (Benson et.al, 1992). This source provides the result of different symptoms from a whiplash injury, the duration, and the circumstances of improvement. Whiplash victims are evaluated by the level of severity according the Whiplash Associated Disorders, or

During infancy, the consistency of the brain tissue is similar to that of custard, making it extremely vulnerable to blows, jars, and other abrupt motions. In SBS and other pediatric brain injuries, several injuries may occur as a result of these motions. Cerebral hemorrhaging is evident in SBS. As blood collects where the brain has been damaged, there is compression or distortion of the remaining structures of the brain, which increases the risk for loss of blood flow to those structures. SBS may also result in brain bruising in multiple areas. These injuries involve speed of the shaking or high impact, which results in the brain bouncing against both sides of the skull, producing multifocal deficits. SBS cases range from mild to extremely