Traumatic Brain Injury
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury
According to the CDC, a TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury.
Types of traumatic brain injury include:
- Closed head injury
- Contusions/Coup-Countrecoup
- Diffuse Axonal Injury
- Intracranial Hemotomas
- Penetrating Injury
- Skull Fractures
Secondary injuries may develop as a result of the primary injury, like:
- Cerebral edema
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypoxia
- Ischemia
- Second Impact Syndrome
Common Symptoms
The most commonly reported symptoms from a mild to moderate TBI include:
Memory issues or loss
Difficulty concentrating
Headaches
Dizziness or loss of balance
Fatigue or drowsiness
Nausea with or without vomiting
Ringing in the ears
Trouble speaking
Dilation of one or both pupils
Loss of coordination or impaired motor skills
Weakness or numbness in extremities
Many traumatic brain injuries lead to psychological issues, which can mimic the symptoms of other brain conditions. What may look like various psychological disorders and/or cognitive problems to a practitioner may actually be a brain injury. Your provider may not be able to “see” those issues without the objective evidence provided by qSPECT® imaging.
Impacted Areas of the Brain
The regions of interest on SPECT include Frontal lobes/poles, orbito-prefrontal cortex, anterior temporal lobes, and occipital lobes/poles. Based on literature, signature patterns for TBI include frontal, temporal, and occipital areas of hypoperfusion, and/or coup/countercoup cerebral blood flow patterns.
Research Articles
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