According to the Mayo Clinic, a Traumatic brain injury usually results from a "violent blow or jolt to the head or body."
A perfect example is the amount of force involved in a crash between an tractor trailer and a passenger car. When a loaded semi strikes a passenger car tens of thousands of pounds of force propel the vehicle and occupants, sometimes from a stopped position in traffic, instantly to 20, 40 or more miles per hour. All of a person's internal organs, including their brain are forced into a violent pattern or rotation sometimes known as a "coup contrecoup" injury where the brain strikes the inside of a person's skull resulting in blunt force trauma, bleeding, and depending on the severity of the forces, mild or serious permanent brain damage. Again, according to the Mayo clinic, "Mild traumatic brain injury may affect your brain cells temporarily. More-serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain. These injuries can result in long-term complications or death."1 If you would like to read further about traumatic brain injury and the long term effects, see the links at the bottom of the page to the Mayo Clinic and National Institutes of Health for in-depth information.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident or crash with a big truck, they should be immediately evaluated for a brain injury. This can be completed initially by the paramedics or fire department at the scene of the crash, and at the Emergency Room using the latest equipment for brain scans to look for brain bruising and brain bleeds inside a person's head. It is extremely important not to delay evaluation at an emergency facility. Every minute counts when a person has a brain bleed and as internal pressure builds brain damage may become irreversible or result in a death that might have been prevented if the proper evaluation and assessment was completed.
Here are some of the important symptoms that may occur immediately or in the days or weeks after a crash:
The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include:
(* "mild" is still very serious, an example being football players getting "mild" TBI's and small brain bleeds with every incorrect tackle)
- Physical symptoms
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- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Problems with speech
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Sensory symptoms
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- Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Cognitive, behavioral or mental symptoms
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- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
- Memory or concentration problems
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries:
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury above, as well as the following symptoms that may appear immediately and/or within the first hours to days after a head injury:
- Physical symptoms
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- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
- Persistent headache or headache that worsens
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
- Cognitive or mental symptoms
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- Profound confusion
- Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
- Slurred speech
- Coma and other disorders of consciousness
Children's symptoms
Because infants and young children with brain injuries might not be able to communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms parent or guardian observation is vital after a potential brain injury. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:
- Change in eating or nursing habits
- Unusual or easy irritability
- Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
- Change in ability to pay attention
- Change in sleep habits
- Seizures
- Sad or depressed mood
- Drowsiness
- Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities
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1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557
