Traumatic brain injury is the most common injury, affecting the bones of the skull or the meninges, blood vessels, and nerve cells. TBIs can be open and closed and are one of the leading causes of mortality among young people.
Causes
Traumatic brain injuries can result from traffic accidents, during extreme sports, at home, or from falling due to an epileptic seizure or fainting. The causes of TBIs include skull fractures with displacement of brain tissue, contusions of soft tissues from impact on an intact skull, and hemorrhages in the brain from vessel injury or aneurysm rupture. A bullet or shrapnel wound to the head, brain swelling causing increased intracranial pressure, infection from a skull fracture, and brain damage during childbirth can also cause TBIs.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
The symptoms of TBIs are assessed using the Glasgow scale. General brain symptoms include confusion, fainting, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and memory loss. Persistent or transient focal symptoms may occur. The astheno-vegetative syndrome causes pallor, pulse instability, fluctuations in blood pressure, etc. Meningeal symptoms and dislocation syndrome are observed.
Diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Israel
In Israel, a patient with a TBI undergoes a comprehensive set of examinations. Initially, an examination is conducted to determine the circumstances of the injury, checking neurological reflexes and airway patency. X-rays of the skull, CT scans, or MRIs, and echoencephalography are performed. If there are no signs of brain displacement, a lumbar puncture is performed. In addition to the main diagnostic methods, laboratory tests and consultations with specialists such as traumatologists, otolaryngologists, and ophthalmologists are conducted.
Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Israel
Treatment of brain injuries in Israel begins with providing first aid to the patient. For any TBI involving affected soft brain tissues, primary surgical assistance is provided - treatment of open wounds and administration of a tetanus antitoxin. Surgical treatment aims to stop bleeding and relieve pressure on the brain. When there are no indications for surgical intervention, intensive therapy is conducted to restore respiratory function, eliminate brain swelling, stimulate its activity, and normalize metabolic and all other processes in the body. To prevent TBIs, it is essential to follow safety rules at work, adhere to traffic regulations while driving, and simply be attentive.