The
Silent Epidemic
Everyday in New Zealand 90 people suffer a brain
injury.
This is 630 per week or 32,760 each year. At
least one third (210) require hospitalisation every week -
10,920 per year. It is conservatively estimated that $90,000,000
(ninety million dollars) are spent every year on hospital care
alone. However, the real cost in terms of rehabilitation, family
impact and far reaching social implications for people whose
head injury lasts a life time, is incalculable!
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
WHAT
IS IT?
Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by impact to the head in turn
causes damage to the brain. TBI can happen at the time of the
impact or later on. The injury may be confined to one area of
the brain or it can involve several areas of the brain. There
are three ways the brain is injured:
·
Bruising and
bleeding – the brain is thrown against the front and back of the
skull which causes bruising and/or bleeding.
·
Swelling – if
there is swelling in the brain pressure begins to build up and
damages structures in the brain
·
Tearing,
shearing and twisting - When tearing occurs the connections
between various parts can be sheared and twisted.
The most
common causes of brain injury are car or bike accidents, sports,
falls or assaults. Brain injuries, especially mild brain
injuries, may not be evident at first. Even if a brain injury
is considered “mild”, it can still have a major impact in all
areas of your life.
TYPES OF HEAD INJURY
Closed
Head Injury
A closed
head injury occurs when the head is struck but the skull is not
penetrated or fractured. Even so someone can lose consciousness
and the brain can be seriously damaged.
Open
Head Injury
Open head
injuries occur when the skull has been broken and the brain
exposed. This may damage the brain tissue immediately below the
fracture causing loss of consciousness as well as more
generalised damage as in a closed head injury.
Minor
Head Injury
A minor
head injury may occur if the head is moved violently or struck.
Hospitalisation may not be necessary and sometimes there is no
loss of consciousness.
Even so,
some people experience behavioural and cognitive problems, which
can interfere with their lives as a result. It is important to
get information to understand the possible effects this may have
on you.
Post
Concussional Syndrome
Symptoms
such as headache, dizziness deafness, ringing in the ears,
memory impairment and short attention span may occur after minor
head injury. These symptoms vary from person to person but are
labelled Post Concussional syndrome. Explanation and advice
should be sought from your local doctor who may refer you to a
neurologist.
