Title: Definitions Related to TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
Headings: Definitions Related to TBI
Definitions Related to TBI
Secondary Injury Includes:
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Content: Causes direct injury by impact and pushing skull fragments into the brain. Secondary Injury – swelling and release of chemicals that promote inflammation and cell injury or death. This causes swelling in the brain which may increase the intracranial pressure and prevent the cerebrospinal fluid from draining out of the skull. This causes further increase in pressure and brain damage. If this is not controlled or prevented the brain can herniate (push through) the base of the skull and cause respiratory failure and death. The only way to prevent the primary injury is to prevent the trauma. The prevention of this secondary injury is the focus of the acute medical care after injury. Secondary Injury Includes: Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull)
Brain swelling
Increased intracranial pressure (pressure inside the skull)
Brain damage associated with lack of oxygen
Infection inside the skull, common with penetrating trauma
Chemical changes leading to cell death
Increased fluid inside the skull (hydrocephalus)
Acquired Brain Injury– injuries other than congenital, birth trauma, hereditary or degenerative. This includes traumatic brain injury.