A traumatic brain injury is a brain injury caused by force or impact. They are common in sports and car accidents.
Traumatic brain injuries can affect how the brain works. They can cause disability or even death. Traumatic brain injuries of all severities are common in car crashes.
1. Concussions
Concussions are very common in car crashes. As the body moves suddenly and violently during the impact of the crash, the brain moves within the skull. A concussion is rarely life-threatening, but it is still a serious injury that needs treatment.
2. Brain contusions
A brain contusion is a bruise on your brain. They happen in car accidents when your head hits something. While many brain contusions heal on their own, serious contusions can cause blood clots and bleeding in the brain.
3. Skull fractures
If an impact to your head is hard enough, your skull can fracture. Signs and symptoms of a skull fracture include visible bleeding from the ears or nose and swelling where the impact occurred.
4. Penetrating brain injuries
As the name suggests, a penetrating brain injury is when an object breaks through the skull and penetrates the brain. The most common outcome from this type of injury is death. Those who survive often have lifelong debilitating disabilities.
Health problems caused by traumatic brain injuries can be short-lived or last a very long time, depending on the severity of the injury. When children suffer traumatic brain injuries, the injuries can impact the continued development of their brains.
