Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) refers to brain damage that is caused by physical trauma. TBI can occur when there is a blow to the head, violent shaking, or an object that penetrates the skull. A blow to the head or shaking may result in a closed head injury. In this case, the brain receives a direct impact injury (known as a coup) and may also shift and impact the skull in the direct opposite direction of the initial blow (countrecoup), creating a double injury. When something penetrates the head and damages the brain tissue, it is known as an open head injury.
A number of circumstances can cause brain injury, including car and motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, sports injuries, and assault. Brain injuries can also be acquired through air deprivation and medical conditions such as near-drowning, strokes, aneurysms and seizures. An Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) occurs when there is an internal medical problem, as opposed to an external impact.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 1.4 million people sustain brain injuries every year in the United States. Of those, 50,000 die and another 80,000 are left permanently disabled. Currently, there are 5.3 million United States citizens that require dependent care and assistance due to a traumatic brain injury. The lifetime cost of care for a TBI victim can be well over a million dollars.
Brain Injury Institute offers a wide variety of information, news and resources related to traumatic brain injury. It also provides you with multiple learning tools to research and and to better understand this injury and the assistance that is available to you in dealing with a brain injury situation.