Advanced Search Home
Product of DHCC

Traumatic Brain Injury

Background

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Conscussions, also called “closed head injuries”, are a type of TBI. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild”, i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe”, i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, sensation, movement, language, and/or emotions. Some symptoms may appear immediately after the injury and other symptoms may not appear for days or weeks. Because of the nature of the injury and the symptoms, sometimes people may not recognize or admit that they have a problem. In post-concussion/mild TBI patients, recovery time is within weeks/months, but a small percentage have persistent symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe TBI may never fully recover their pre-injury function. The rate of combat-related brain injuries in servicemembers returning from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan appears to be highter than in previous conflicts. Nearly 30% of all patients with combat-related injuries seen at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 2003 to 2005 sustained a TBI. Blast injuries are a significant cause of TBIs. TBI is often associated with severe multiple trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or undiagnosed concussions. Screening patients who are at risk for a TBI is important in order to ensure that TBIs are identifed and appropriately treated.

Table of Contents


Clinical Guidance

Back to topBack to Top

Policies and Directives

Back to topBack to Top

Fact Sheets

Back to topBack to Top

Forms and Measures

Back to topBack to Top

Other Related Information

Back to topBack to Top

Education and Training  

 

Back to topBack to Top

Research

Back to topBack to Top

Related Links

Back to topBack to Top


Subscribe to the DHCC Newsletter

Questions raised as to guilt of Bruce Ivins in 2001 anthrax attacks
Date:2/5/2010

The Military's Closet
Date:2/5/2010

Defense Dept. probes Marine mental health care
Date:2/5/2010

Swine Flu: The Pandemic That Wasn't
Date:2/5/2010

Researchers see pattern in PTSD brain activity
Date:2/5/2010

Vegetative patient "talks" using brain waves
Date:2/5/2010

The GAO published “Electronic Health Records: DoD and VA Interoperability Efforts Are Ongoing; Program Office Needs to Implement Recommended Improvements
Date:2/4/2010

The 'Burn Pits' Of Iraq And Afghanistan
Date:2/4/2010

Military Weapons That Save Lives?
Date:2/4/2010

Study: Time spent on Web linked to depression
Date:2/4/2010

Away from Battle, Soldier Find Relief in Theater of War
Date:2/4/2010

“Call for Presentations for Deployment Healthcare Track, Force Health Protection Conference Aug 2010”
Date:2/4/2010

Ex-POW in Iraq war recalls nightmares, depression
Date:2/3/2010

Brain scan diagnoses misunderstanding of diagnosis
Date:2/3/2010

In Washington, D.C.: Reimagining Walter Reed's Campus
Date:2/3/2010

Last Updated: 2/5/2010
External Links Disclamier
 Browser Information Security & Privacy Notice 


www.PDHealth.mil is the Official Web site of the DoD Deployment Health Clinical Center
Located at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.