What happens to the brain during injury and in the early stages of recovery from TBI?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to damage to the brain caused by an external physical force such as a car accident, a gunshot wound to the head, or a fall. A TBI is not caused by something internal such as a stroke or tumor, and does not include damage to the brain due to prolonged lack of oxygen (anoxic brain injuries). It is possible to have a TBI and never lose consciousness. For example, someone with a penetrating gunshot wound to the head may not lose consciousness. Commonly accepted criteria established by the TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) to identify the presence and severity of TBI include: Damage to brain tissue caused by an external force and at least one of the following: • A documented loss of consciousness • The person cannot recall the actual traumatic event (amnesia) • The person has a skull fracture, post-traumatic seizure, or an abnormal brain scan due to the trauma Back to top Causes of TBI Statistics from Centers for Disease Control for 2002-2006 indicate that the le
