A traumatic brain injury or TBI occurs when there is a jolt or blunt force trauma that causes an injury to the brain. These injuries can range from mild to severe.
If you suffer from a TBI, you may require several different treatment options or physical therapy, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Treatment options
After suffering a TBI, emergency doctors focus on stabilization. Their priority is to ensure that enough oxygen makes it to your brain, that your blood pressure remains stable and that you do not suffer further injury to your head.
In severe cases, physicians may need to perform surgery to reduce the risk or damage to the brain. Surgeons may remove pieces of the skull or other debris to encourage healing or set skull fractures. If there is any swelling or blood in the brain, physicians may have to create a hole in the skull to reduce pressure or add a shunt. Blood clots are also common and doctors must remove them before they damage brain tissue.
Rehabilitation options
TBI symptoms can be ongoing. You may lose cognitive or physical abilities. You may need to relearn skills or find new ways to carry out daily activities. You will normally begin rehabilitation in the hospital, but you may transfer to a rehabilitation center, a nursing facility, a school, an outpatient program or one of many other places that can help you.
Rehabilitation may include the following therapies:
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Psychological therapy
The type of rehabilitation that you require will depend on the injury.
