Conditions

Brain Injury

Brain Injuries

Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are very dangerous and can leave victims of an accident disabled for the rest of their life. They happen because of heavy blows to the head, either because of a slip and fall, a bad car accident, or when an object or projectile hits the victim’s head. There are a variety of brain injuries that range from mild to severe and can include hematomas, contusions, and edema. If you believe that you are suffering from a traumatic brain injury, get help now. Call Icon Medical Centers for additional information.

Brain Injuries Brain Injuries Brain Injuries

Intracranial Hematomas

Hematomas are caused by ruptured blood vessels that lead to internal bleeding and are considered primary traumatic brain injuries. When hematomas occur inside the skull, they result in intracranial pressure to the brain and other forms of tissue damage.

Epidural

An epidural hematoma occurs when a pool of blood builds up between the brain and the outer layer of the tissue surrounding the brain. This can cause dizziness, enlarged pupils, drowsiness, severe headaches, and loss of consciousness. Nausea and vomiting are other symptoms.

Subdural

Subdural hematomas are life-threatening and happen when burst blood vessels create a pocket of blood between the brain and its outermost covering. The pressure caused by the accumulation of blood can result in slurred speech, vomiting, confusion, and headaches. In worst-case scenarios, subdural hematomas can also result in coma.

Subarachnoid

Subarachnoid hematomas occur specifically between the pia and the arachnoid membranes of the brain. The classic symptom of this type of hematoma is a very severe headache. There may also be neck stiffness, seizures, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.

Intraventricular

These hematomas occur within the ventricles of the brain and have a wider range of symptoms. For example, you may feel numbness, paralysis, and tingling in the face. You may also have paralysis in one arm, leg, or on one side of the body.

Intracerebral

Intracerebral hematomas happen inside the brain tissue and can cause symptoms based upon where the brain hemorrhage is located. This can result in difficulty speaking, walking, thinking, and more. There may be an altered level of consciousness, fainting, seizures, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms. An intracerebral hematoma can also put you at risk of a stroke.

Contusions

These brain injuries are less severe but still come with a variety of symptoms. This is when the blood vessels are ruptured and have little bleeding due to the bruising of brain tissue. Contusions typically heal on their own without intervention.

Skull Fractures

When the skull gets hit with blunt force, it can result in a skull fracture. You might expect skull deformity, bruising around the eyes or ears, fluid leaking from the nose or ears, swelling, and tenderness. There will also be severe pain in the area that was injured. There are four main types of skull fractures, including linear, basilar, depressed, and diffuse axonal injury.

Secondary Traumatic Brain Injury

This type of brain injury takes longer to develop, such as hours or days, after a primary brain injury has occurred. It can go through several stages of changes in blood vessels, chemical, tissue, or cellular processes.

Hypoxia And Hypotension

Hypoxia happens when there are low levels of oxygen in the brain due to an injury. Some of the symptoms include blue color in the skin, lips, and fingernails. You may also experience wheezing, coughing, headaches, and a fast heartbeat. Hypotension is when there are low levels of blood pressure in the brain. This results in cold, pale, and clammy skin, dehydration and thirst, fainting, and dizziness.

Hydrocephalus

In addition to brain swelling, the brain tissue may start releasing fluid that causes swelling within the brain. This can result in leg weakness, irritability, falling, and the inability to focus the eyes.

Ischemia

Ischemia occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow to the brain. It can cause the loss of coordination, difficulty speaking, dizziness, and weakness in one side of the body or one limb. You may also experience vertigo and double vision from this injury.

Cerebral Edema

Cerebral edema happens when the brain tissue swells. Brain swelling can result in irregular breathing, dizziness, vomiting, memory loss, headaches, and the inability to walk.

Get Help With Your Brain Injuries Now

Traumatic brain injuries are serious and can result in the decline of your memory and cognitive function. When you are suffering from a brain injury, it is critical that you get immediate medical help. Your doctor can perform an imaging scan on you to identify and diagnose the type of brain injury you have. You can also ask medical representatives questions about potential treatments for your specific injury. To learn more about how you can get started, contact Icon Medical Centers today.