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Common Types
of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are prevalent in many different kinds of personal injury accidents, especially car crashes and premises liability cases like slip-and-falls.
Here are a few of the most common types of brain injuries:
Traumatic brain injury
A traumatic brain injury is any damage to the brain or alteration of brain function caused by some external force, such as a car accident or slip-and-fall. A traumatic brain injury can be closed (meaning nothing penetrates the skull to damage the brain) or open (meaning something has broken through the skull to damage the brain).
Concussion
Concussions happen when the brain collides with the skull’s interior after a sudden change in momentum, damaging the brain tissues and sometimes leading to a bruise.
Contusion
Contusions are bruises that form on the brain after some type of blow to the head.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when something causes a disruption in the supply of blood to the brain. Strokes can be caused either by a clot that blocks blood flow or by a broken blood vessel causing blood to leak into the brain.
Aneurysm
Brain aneurysms happen when an artery or blood vessel wall weakens, causing it to swell and form a blister-like shape. As the aneurysm grows, it can put pressure on the surrounding tissues and cause a range of harmful effects. If the aneurysm bursts, it can lead to a stroke.
Tumor
A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue inside the skull caused by cells dividing uncontrollably. Most tumors are not the result of an accident, but they can cause severe brain damage, nonetheless.
Hematoma/hemorrhage
A hematoma or hemorrhage injury is when blood vessels rupture inside the brain, causing blood to accumulate in brain tissue and empty spaces within the brain. A hematoma is generally caused by a blood clot somewhere in the brain, while a hemorrhage is usually the result of some kind of blow to the head.
Edema
An edema is brain swelling, putting pressure on brain tissues as they press up against the skull. Left untreated, this pressure can lead to brain tissue damage and other effects.
Skull fracture
A blow to the head can cause the skull to fracture, allowing pieces of bone to penetrate the brain and damage different tissues. A skull fracture can also put pressure on the brain, causing further damage. If someone sustains a skull fracture to the brain’s base, known as a basilar skull fracture, cerebral spinal fluid can leak from the brain.
Penetration injuries
Penetration injuries occur when an external object breaks through the skull and ends up lodged in the brain, damaging blood vessels in the brain as well as brain tissue. A gunshot is an example of a penetration injury.
Shear injuries
Also known as diffuse axonal injuries, these occur when the brain is shaken or goes through a severe, sharp rotation. This can happen if the head suddenly twists after the impact of a car crash or other accident.
Coup-contrecoup injuries
These injuries happen when the brain slams from side to side inside the skull in a sudden impact, causing severe damage to brain tissue and blood vessels.
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