Neurotrauma

Neurotrauma is a health problem that needs the attention of the world’s health community. These injuries will cause considerable losses to communities, families, and individuals.  They lead to an enormous number of deaths and impairments that lead to permanent disabilities. Research has also shown that traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs long-term care and therefore incurs economic costs to health systems. Generally, Neurotrauma results in two complex conditions: spinal cord injury (SCI) and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

ABI can create problems in planning, attention, and interacting with others. SCI types of injuries lead to permanent paralysis. Individuals who have this type of neurotrauma require assistance to carry out their day-to-day activities. It also leads to health issues such as behavioral dysfunction and depression. It affects families, communities, and individuals they live in due to the range of health care and social supports and services required to assist the individual with neurotrauma to live in their social community. 

Head Trauma

Head trauma starts from a minor bump on the skull to complex brain trauma. It generally starts from getting hit on the head and can happen if you fail, if there’s a sudden accident or assault, or if you are hit by a Projectile like a bullet.  This type of trauma can cause your brain cells to malfunction. Some of the types of head trauma are 

Mild TBI 

Moderate TBI 

Concussion

Depressed skull fracture 

Coma

Epidural hematoma 

Acute subdural hematoma 

Traumatic cerebrospinal fluid leak

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm

Blunt cerebrovascular injury

Spine Trauma

You may also have an injury to your cervical, thoracic sections of your spinal column or spinal cord due to sudden fall, collisions with a moving object, and a car accident.  Based on the type of accident and affected area, the spine trauma will lead to injuries such as 

Cervical spine injury 

Thoracic spine injury

Spinal cord injury 

Atlanto-occipital dissociation 

Perched facets 

Jefferson fracture 

Traumatic central cord syndrome 

Fracture-dislocation 

Chance fracture 

Compression injury 

Distraction injury

Diagnosis

Neurotrauma can form by itself, or together with other body-related injuries. Most individuals who experience complex injury to their spine or head come to the hospital through the Emergency Room (ER) and don’t have enough time to schedule appointments. Generally, surgeons use Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the head or spine or they use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) instead. 

To diagnose a TBI, normally specialized conduct:

Detailed neurological examinations.

Cognitive evaluations by a neuropsychologist 

Evaluations by physical therapists. 

Neurotrauma Treatment

Surgeons will treat head and spine injuries based on several factors such as type of injury and how complex it is. Mild injuries just need careful observation while severe trauma demand surgery. Some types of injuries require surgery, even if they are not very severe. 
They will perform the following procedures such as

Lumbar Drain Placement

External Ventricular Drain Placement

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring

Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Cranioplasty

Complex Craniofacial Repair

Halo Stabilization

Spinal Decompression

Spinal Fusion

Instrumented Spine Stabilization

Conclusion

Most individuals who experience mild traumatic injuries to the head or spine end up doing well and most of them recover completely. Some other injuries may require long-term rehabilitation services.