Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury What is it? Traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI, is an injury to the brain caused by a sudden blow to the head.
How serious is a TBI? TBI can be classified into mild, moderate or severe, depending on the type and amount of brain damage.
Brain damage occurs immediately after TBI. Further brain injury can follow caused by:
What are the effects? Some patients may suffer from post traumatic amnesia (PTA). This can cause confusion, memory loss or both.
• Brain swelling • Blockages preventing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) • Blood clots in the brain What causes it? There are many causes of TBI. The two most common are: • Road traffic accidents • Falls • Blood clots in the brain
Long term memories such as address, date of birth or significant historical events often remain intact after TBI.
There are two types of amnesia after TBI: • Retrograde amnesia This is the loss of some or all memories from before the head injury. The time period of memory loss can range from a few seconds to many months. • Anterograde amnesia This is difficulty forming memories and remembering things aft er the TBI.
Can it be treated? TBI patients may require surgery to remove a large blood clot or reduce pressure inside the skull. They may also require rehabilitation or assistance during the recovery phase. The patient’s family is encouraged to participate in their care especially if they are assisting the patient after discharge.
How long does this last? The more severe the injury, the longer the memory loss will last. This can affect long term recovery.
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
IP.PE.54.0517