World Head Injury Day 20 March 2014 What are the common Complications and Challenges? Seizures Some people who have had a traumatic brain injury will experience at least one seizure during the first week after the injury. This doesnt appear to increase their chances of developing epilepsy. However, the chance of epilepsy does increase if there are major structural injuries to the brain. Infections Skull fractures or penetrating wounds can tear the membranes (meninges) that surround the brain, letting in bacteria. Infection of these membranes (meningitis) can be especially dangerous because of its potential to spread to the rest of the nervous system. Nerve damage Injuries to the base of the skull can damage cranial nerves, which may result in: Paralysis of facial muscles; Damage to the nerves responsible for eye movements, which can cause double vision and damage to the nerves that provide sense of smell. Post Traumatic Hydrocephalus Inability of the brain to absorb cerebrospinal fluid resulting in increased amount in the brain causing high pressures. Cognitive disabilities Most people who have had a significant brain injury will experience some problems in their cognitive skills, which may include: Thinking, reasoning, problem solving, information processing, memory, speed of mental processing, judgment, attention, multi-tasking. The most common of these impairments is short-term memory loss. That means the injured person recalls information from before the head trauma, but has to struggle to learn new information after the head trauma. Language difficulties Communication problems are common. Some people who have had brain injuries have problems with spoken and written language, while others have problems deciphering nonverbal signals. In some cases, poor cognitive skills may disrupt the ability to succinctly organize thoughts and ideas. Personality changes Brain injuries typically interfere with impulse control, so inappropriate behaviour is often present during recovery and rehabilitation. Patients may be more irritable, anxious or depressed. These unstable emotions and impaired social skills may pose the greatest coping challenge for many families. Sensory problem Problems involving senses may include: A persistent ringing in the ears; Difficulty recognizing objects; Impaired hand-eye coordination, which can make one appear clumsy; Blind spots or double vision; and a bitter taste or a bad smell. Post-concussion syndrome Post-concussion syndrome is a complex disorder in which concussion symptoms such as headaches and dizziness manifest. These symptoms can last for weeks and sometimes months after the impact that caused the concussion. Psychosocial problems Emotional problems e.g. depression, insomnia and lack of interest in daily activities and work may be experienced by patients with head injury. Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease A traumatic brain injury appears to increase the risk of eventually developing Alzheimers disease and, to a lesser degree, Parkinsons disease. The higher the frequency and severity of the injuries, the greater the risk. Coma and Death A person who is unconscious and unresponsive is in a coma. A coma may also lead to a vegetative state or death.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:28:38 +0000
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