Brain Injury – Can it be treated?

Surgery for brain injuries

Where contusions (bruised brain tissue) hematomas (ruptured blood vessels), clots, lesions, or other internal bleeding are found, its usually necessary to perform surgery to relieve the pressure these place on the brain.

In the short time after a brain injury, a decompressive craniectomy may be performed, in which a section of the skull is removed temporarily to relieve the pressure. If the skull has been fractured a craniotomy may be required so that the fragmented area can be permanently removed.

Around two thirds of people with moderate brain injury, and virtually all people whose injuries are classified as severe, will be left with some form of disability as a result of the damage to their brain. These range from speech and coordination problems to behavioural problems and mental health issues.

A comprehensive suite of rehabilitation services is available to help people recover as much function as possible after suffering brain injuryand to help them to learn to cope with their disability. These include physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Numerous drugs are also available to manage the symptoms of brain injury, including anti-depressants, anti-epileptics, and sedatives.

In short, brain injury cannot be treated. Once the damage is done it is usually irreversible. However, as we have seen above there is a great deal that can be done following a TBI to prevent the initial damage from getting any worse. Prompt action by all concerned can make the difference between the victim dealing with a minor disability and having to come to terms with much worse.

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Brain Injury - Can it be treated?