Serious Brain Injury:
Brain injuries can occur in different ways and at various levels. There are two main types of brain injury, which are traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury. There are also three basic levels of brain injury, which are mild, moderate, and serious. In the case of mild and moderate brain injury, the patient is affected for a while but in most of these cases, can go on to make a good recovery although not always a complete recovery. However, with a serious brain injury, the victim’s life can be changed forever, as this level of injury can be seriously debilitating and potentially fatal.
A severe brain injury is where unconsciousness or coma lasts for a longer period, such as days, weeks, or months. There are various states that come under the umbrella of a serious brain injury. These include:
Coma: This is a state in which the person seems to be asleep but cannot be woken up and does not respond to stimuli or offer any reaction. A person can remain in a coma for days, weeks, months, even years, and in some cases never come out of the coma.
Vegetative state: This is where the person is unable to react with the environment although he or she can still feel and recognize stimuli. The body of someone in this state will still react to sensations by way of perspiration, heart rate, etc. but the patient my not react outwardly. If this condition lasts for more than one month, it is known as a persistent vegetative state.
Minimally responsive state: This is where a person that has suffered a traumatic brain injury is no longer in a vegetative state or coma. However, as the name suggests, responses from the person will be minimal. The person may display very basic reflexes and a lack of understanding.
Akinetic Mutism: Damage to the dopaminergic pathways of the brain can result in a neurobehavioral condition known as akinetic mutism. Some of the symptoms of this condition include restricted body movement, speech disorders, inconsistent inability to follow commands, and agitation.
Locked in syndrome: This is a condition where the person is unable to move any part of their body except for the eyes. The person’s consciousness and emotions remain intact but the person is unable to make any physical movement other than eye movements and blinking. This is a rare neurological condition.
Brain death: This is where the brain stops functioning altogether, and can occur following a serious injury to the brain.
How serious brain injuries occur
Serious brain injury can occur in a number of ways. Any impact to the head through an accident or act of violence can cause the brain to move inside the skull. This can contribute to brain injury. The skull actually protects the brain, but because the inside of the skull is rough it can also rub against the brain in the event that the brain moves within the skull. This can also contribute to brain damage. Any injury to the skull that cracks or breaks the bone can also damage the brain. And starvation of oxygen levels can result in serious brain damage.
A serious brain injury can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life – and can also heavily impact upon the life of that person’s loved ones. Depending on the cause and level of brain injury, the person could become debilitated for life. It may fall to the friends and family of the patient to provide around the clock care for the rest of his or her life.
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