TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries)

At Core, we provide comprehensive care for patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Our team of specialists is experienced in the preliminary assessment and management of concussions and brain injuries, ensuring prompt and effective care.

Using evidence-based testing protocols, we assess the severity of the injury and collaborate with specialists to guide patients through their recovery journey. For more complex cases, we refer patients for advanced imaging, including Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), which helps detect subtle brain injuries that may not be visible through conventional scans.

Dr. Tung, our certified specialist in TBI medicine, leads our team with a deep commitment to restoring patients’ cognitive and physical function. At Core, we prioritize patient-centered care, offering tailored treatment plans and seamless coordination with neurologists, neuropsychologists, and other specialists as needed.

If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury, trust Core Medical Group for compassionate and expert care. Your recovery is our mission.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries come in many forms. The type of injury you have will affect your treatment plan.

Primary Brain Injury

A primary brain injury happens at the time of injury. If you hit your head in a car accident, injuries happen as soon as your head hits a hard surface. No more damage occurs after the collision is completed.

Secondary Brain Injury

A secondary brain injury will continue to develop over time. A secondary brain injury comes after the primary brain injury.
Your brain will undergo many changes, often in the tissues or at the cellular level. These changes are secondary injuries, and you may not notice the symptoms right away.

Closed Brain Injury

If your skull doesn’t crack open at the time of impact, you have received a closed brain injury. This means that the injury occurred inside your skull, likely due to the brain shaking and hitting the inside walls of the skull.

The most common causes of closed brain injuries are car crashes, falls, assaults, and sports injuries.

Penetrating Brain Injury

Penetrating brain injuries occur when the skull is broken during impact. Bullet wounds are a major cause of penetrating brain injury.

Though it may sound worse than closed brain injuries, both are causes for concern and should be treated with the same sense of urgency.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is when the nerves in the brain stretch, twist and tear as the brain rotates and moves around. This type of brain injury is also difficult to locate on brain scans.

What Are the Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury?

Several incidents can cause a traumatic brain injury:

Motor vehicle accidents : Car/Truck crashes can cause injuries to drivers and passengers inside the vehicle when their heads knock around and hit a hard surface. Inner bruising may also occur. Pedestrians may also receive a brain injury if their head impacts the vehicle or the ground.

Falling : Slipping and falling can result in a traumatic brain injury if you hit your head on the way down.

Physical Violence: Any physical violence, whether it’s in the form of abuse or friendly competition in a football game, can result in a brain injury if the head is struck with too much force.

Inner Bruising: If the brain is shaken around and hits the inside of the skull, it could result in a traumatic brain injury.

Know When To Seek Medical Attention

According to the CDC, there are more than 230,000 non-fatal TBI-related hospitalizations in the U.S every year. The most common injuries requiring hospitalization were car crashes and falls. So, if you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident or had a bad fall, you’ll likely need prompt medical care.

If you suffer a head injury, how do you know when to seek medical attention? Consider consulting with a Brain Injury specialist if you suffer a head injury and experience any of the following symptoms:

 

Cognitive and Behavioral / Emotional Symptoms

  • Forgetfulness or amnesia
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Difficulty making decisions and judgments
  • Depression
  • Apathy or no motivation
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty multitasking
  • Anxiety
  • Anger and aggression

Physical Symptoms

  • Seizures
  • Drooping face
  • Loss of balance / coordination
  • Tremors or twitching
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness
  • Can’t control face
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Pain, such as shocking or burning sensations
  • Fatigue

Sensory Symptoms

  • Visual changes, like blurry or double vision
  • Changes in hearing, such as hearing loss or a ringing sound in your ear(s)
  • Depth perception issues
  • Sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • Loss of taste and/or smell

Social Symptoms

 

  • Misunderstanding or not recognizing social cues
  • Slow to understand others speaking
  • Difficulty maintaining relationships
  • Difficulty speaking, reading, and writing
  • Forgetting simple tasks

Functional Symptoms

  • Unconsciousness or Coma
  • Imbalance
  • Vertigo
  • Moving slowly
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Taking longer to plan or make movements
  • Paralysis

Do You Need Help?

Please Call 203-373-1593

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