Brain stem injuries are particularly problematic as they can affect your quality of life and ability to work. In some cases, they can even result in death. If someone was responsible for an accident that caused you or a loved one to suffer a brainstem injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation. This can help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our brain injury lawyers for more information. As you may or may not know, the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord.
This is essential for critical bodily functions, including:. Note that the brain stem also acts as a segue to send communication from your body to the brain.
A signal that you need rest or water, for example, must travel through the brain stem. Now, there are three regions of the brain stem that work together to perform its functions:. The Pons: upper portion of the stem that assists with respiration, swallowing, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, posture, and bladder control. The Midbrain: associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep cycles, and temperature regulation.
Traumatic brain injury can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury, as well as these symptoms that may appear within the first hours to days after a head injury:. Infants and young children with brain injuries might not be able to communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:. Always see your doctor if you or your child has received a blow to the head or body that concerns you or causes behavioral changes.
Seek emergency medical care if there are any signs or symptoms of traumatic brain injury following a recent blow or other traumatic injury to the head. The terms "mild," "moderate" and "severe" are used to describe the effect of the injury on brain function.
A mild injury to the brain is still a serious injury that requires prompt attention and an accurate diagnosis. Traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a blow or other traumatic injury to the head or body. The degree of damage can depend on several factors, including the nature of the injury and the force of impact. Explosive blasts and other combat injuries. Explosive blasts are a common cause of traumatic brain injury in active-duty military personnel.
Although how the damage occurs isn't yet well understood, many researchers believe that the pressure wave passing through the brain significantly disrupts brain function. Traumatic brain injury also results from penetrating wounds, severe blows to the head with shrapnel or debris, and falls or bodily collisions with objects following a blast.
Several complications can occur immediately or soon after a traumatic brain injury. Severe injuries increase the risk of a greater number of and more-severe complications. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can result in prolonged or permanent changes in a person's state of consciousness, awareness or responsiveness. Different states of consciousness include:. Vegetative state. Widespread damage to the brain can result in a vegetative state. Although the person is unaware of surroundings, he or she may open his or her eyes, make sounds, respond to reflexes, or move.
It's possible that a vegetative state can become permanent, but often individuals progress to a minimally conscious state. Sometimes, any or several of these symptoms might linger for a few weeks to a few months after a traumatic brain injury.
When a combination of these symptoms lasts for an extended period of time, this is generally referred to as persistent post-concussive symptoms. Traumatic brain injuries at the base of the skull can cause nerve damage to the nerves that emerge directly from the brain cranial nerves.
Cranial nerve damage may result in:. Many people who have had a significant brain injury will experience changes in their thinking cognitive skills. It may be more difficult to focus and take longer to process your thoughts. Traumatic brain injury can result in problems with many skills, including:. Language and communications problems are common following traumatic brain injuries.
Unexplained bruising on the legs may be a symptom of a forgotten injury. However, in some cases, the cause could be an underlying condition. Written by Sy Kraft on February 24, Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage.
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