What is brain trauma and spine trauma?
Severe injuries to your brain and spine happen to people of all ages. About 1.7 million people in this country experience a traumatic brain injury annually, while nearly 500,000 are living with spinal cord trauma.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow to your head or a penetrating head injury. Brain trauma produces symptoms that range from mild to severe.
Spinal cord injuries affect how your brain transmits messages throughout your body. The location of the trauma on your spinal cord determines the severity of the injury. You may lose the ability to move an arm, leg, one side of your body, or experience more extreme symptoms.
What causes brain trauma and spine trauma?
Men are much more likely to experience a traumatic brain injury than women. The most common causes are:
- Car crashes: account for 50-70% of TBI accidents
- Sports and recreational activities: account for about 21% of traumatic brain injuries among children and teens.
More than half of spinal cord injuries occur among people age 16-30, and most occur among males. The leading causes are:
- Car accidents: the top cause among people age 65 and younger
- Falls: the leading cause for people age 65 and up
What are the symptoms of brain trauma?
With a TBI, you may see a wide variety of symptoms. These include:
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness or lethargy
- Headache
- Confusion
- Paralysis
- Loss of consciousness
- Changes in vision or dilated pupils
- Blood-tinged or clear fluid coming out the nose or ears
- Trouble balancing and dizziness
- Breathing problems or slowed breathes with an increase in blood pressure
A brain injury can produce other symptoms, which is why it’s vital to contact Dr. Gravely as soon as you suspect brain trauma.
What are the symptoms of spine trauma?
You’ll typically experience a loss of function below the area where the trauma occurred on your spine. Other signs to watch for include:
- Extreme pressure or pain in your head, back, or neck
- Numbness or tingling in your fingers, hand, toes, or feet
- Losing some or all control of a body part
- An urgent need to go to the bathroom or incontinence
- Trouble walking or keeping your balance
If you suspect you have a spinal injury, you need to seek immediate medical attention.
How are brain and spine trauma diagnosed?
If you suspect an injury or accident has caused trauma in your brain or spine, you need a rapid and comprehensive diagnosis. Seek immediate care in an emergency room first.
Next, contact neurosurgeon Dr. Gravely who specializes in treating brain and spinal injuries. Call today or schedule a consultation online with Lance E. Gravely, MD.
