Brain Injury Information From The CDC

A mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), also known as a concussion or head injury, is a very common neurological disorder and impacts over 1.5 million Americans every year.

This post summarizes helpful information regarding traumatic and mild traumatic brain injury presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you or a loved one has suffered an head injury, concussion, MTBI, or brain injury of any sort, pleas seek medical attention immediately.

And if you would like more information on this subject, or would like to read the CDC’s Heads UP: Facts for Physicians About Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) report, please visit the CDC’s website.

First, according to the CDC, it is important to remember that while MTBI symptoms may appear mild at first, they can lead to serious impairment and impact an individual’s physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning.

So, what exactly is an MTBI or mild traumatic brain injury? In other words, what is the conceptual definition of MTBI?

The CDC defines MTBI as “the occurrence of injury to the head arising from blunt trauma or acceleration or deceleration forces with one or more of the following . . . ”

The following can be observed or self-reported:

  • A loss of consciousness lasting less than 30 minutes; or
  • Memory dysfunction at or around the time of the injury; or
  • Confusion, impaired consciousness, or disorientation.

Additional neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction that may be observed:

  • Fatigue, dizziness, irritability, headache, or poor concentration; or
  • Seizures immediately following the injury to the head; or
  • Vomiting following a head injury, lethargy, or irritability.

As a personal injury attorney who deals with traumatic brain injury victims (both TBI and MTBI), it is important to note that many injury victims simply don’t recall what they do not remember.

They don’t know if they experienced retrograde amnesia or any memory dysfunction at all. Often, this information can only be obtained by careful questioning by a health care professional who is trained in treating brain injuries.

What are the signs and symptoms of a MTBI?

The signs and symptoms of MBTI may include cognitive, physical, and behavioral issues or problems, according to the CDC, including the following:

Cognitive issues: orientation problems, problems concentrating or focussing, and attention difficulties.

Physical issues: seizures, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, uneven gait, nausea, and/or blurred vision.

Behavioral issues: loss of initiative, anxiety, depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, and/or problems regarding employment, marriage, relationships, home life or school life.

What are the long-term consequences that can result form suffering a mild traumatic brain injury or MTBI?

  • Sensory problems – changes in vision – post-concussion syndrome.
  • Pain,
  • Confusion,
  • Fatigue,
  • Mood changes,
  • Changes in sleep patterns,
  • And of course, cognitive and/or memory issues and problems.

How many patients or injury victims will experience long-term problems?

  • According to the CDC this number is not fully known because we are uncertain how many individuals suffer MTBI but do not receive treatment. Based on best estimates, however, approximately 15% or all mild traumatic brain injury patients will sustain persistent disabling problems.
  • And as a direct result of all traumatic brain injuries or TBIs treated in the United States an estimated $56 billion is spent annually.

What are the leading causes of traumatic brain injury including MTBI?

  • Falls,
  • Motor vehicle crashes,
  • Firearm use, and
  • Sports and recreational activities.

What groups are most at risk for traumatic brain injury including MTBI?

  • There are primarily two groups who are most at risk: older adults (ages 65 and up) and adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 24).

What steps can someone take to avoid and prevent TBIs of all types?

    • Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and never ride in or on any vehicle where someone is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
    • Wear a seatbelt; in a car, a bus, a truck, a van etc. if a seatbelt is available use it. And make sure any child with you is using an age and weight appropriate seatbelt or child seat.
    • Wear a helmet if you are: skiing, snowboarding, biking, motorcycling, riding a horse, skateboarding, playing a contact sport or baseball, softball, skating, or operating heavy machinery or working on a construction site.
    • Avoid falls by making sure that you have your vision tested regularly, remove tripping hazards from your home, and if you must reach for items on high shelves use a step stool with a grab bar, make sure that there are handrails installed in your stairway, put non-slip mats in the bathtub and shower floors, and exercise regularly focussing on strength, balance, and coordination.
    • If you have a firearm, make sure that it is stored in a locked place and unloaded.
  • Look for shock -absorbing surfaces where your children play.

It is also important to avoid and prevent secondary injury resulting from a head injury. MTBI is associated with a greater risk of secondary injury because it impacts reaction time and even judgment.

Therefore, it is vital for individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury of any type to obtain and follow their doctors instructions regarding return to regular physical activities.

If you would like additional information on traumatic brain injury, its causes, consequences and preventative measures that you can take around work and the home, please visit the CDC’s website or see their brain injury tool kit.