Personal Injury Medical Terms Part V – Traumatic Brain Injuries (A-G)

By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury

This is Part V of VI in my Personal Injury Medical Terms Glossary. Over the past three days I have addressed the most common injuries and terms related to the spinal injuries that can be expected to occur as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident. Today I will attempt to provide some definitions that relate to traumatic brain injuries.

Anoxic Brain Injury

An anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain does not receive any oxygen. Drowning, electrical shock, choking, strokes, heart attacks, toxins, disease and extremely high altitudes can cause anoxia. The long term prognosis is entirely dependent time which the brain has been deprived of oxygen.

Brain Contusion

Brain contusions are traumatic brain injuries that are usually caused by a blow to the head, such as those that could be expected to occur as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident. Brain contusions result when the brain slams against the sharp ridges on the interior of the skull which results in a bruise to the brain tissue.

Closed Head Brain Injury

A closed head brain injury is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent motion which causes the brain to slam against the inside of the skull. Closed head brain injuries can be classified as focal, meaning the damage is limited to one discrete area of the brain, or diffuse, meaning that they affect brain cells and tissues throughout the brain. Prognosis for a closed head brain injury is dependent on the severity of the injury.

Concussion

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. Concussions alter the manner in which the brain functions. These alterations are sometimes temporary, but recent studies have shown that concussions can cause permanent brain damage and emotional issues. A concussion is usually caused by blow to the head, but can also be caused by a violent shaking of the head and upper body. Whiplash type injuries suffered in a rear end car collision have been known to be accompanied by concussion symptoms.

Depressed Skull Fracture
A compound fracture involves a break in, or loss of, skin and splintering of the bone.

Coup-Contrecoup

Coup-Contrecoup is a traumatic brain injury. It is essentially a brain contusion that has brain bruising both at the site of the impact and on the complete opposite side of the brain.

Depressed Skull Fracture

A depressed skull fracture is a break in a cranial bone (or “crushed” portion of skull) with depression of the bone in toward the brain. A skull fracture will be accompanied by a concussion or other more serious injuries to the brain.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

A diffuse axonal injury occurs when the brain moves inside the skull tearing nerves and other brain structures. The easiest situation in which to imagine a diffuse axonal injury is shaken baby syndrome. However, diffuse axonal injuries can be caused by a car accident. The long term prognosis of a person suffering a diffuse axonal injury depends upon the area of the brain affected. Permanent impairments are to be expected.

Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale is a testing tool used by medical professionals to evaluate the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries. The medical professionals evaluate the level of consciousness on a scale of 3 to 15. The doctor will chart how each patient responds to stimuli using the Glasgow Coma Scale. A score of 3 is profoundly unconscious, while 15 is normal.

Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury law firm today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

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