Traumatic brain injury

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Traumatic brain injury

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury is a medical terminology that is used to refer to an injury to the brain, or brain dysfunction that is caused by a mechanical force. The force may be penetrating or blunt. An example of a penetrating force that can cause brain injury is a bullet or a piece of skull itself. The brain injury can be severe or mild. Mild brain injury may be a result of dysfunction of tissues, cells a physical damage or bleeding. Since most of the times it is physical in nature, brain damage can affect any population or race. However, certain factors like the nature of work done can increase the chances of brain injury. For example, boxers and other sports people are always at a risk of brain damage due to the nature of their work. This paper discusses traumatic brain injury among adults aged 75 years and above.

Background information

Before looking at brain injury among adults the target population, it is important to appreciate the statistics concerning brain injury in the general population. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) (2013), outlines that there are about 1.7 million people living with traumatic brain injury, either alongside other illnesses or as isolated cases. A research conducted by Hemphill et al (2011) shows that in the 10 year period between 1997 and 2007, annual average deaths related to traumatic brain injury in the USA were 53,04. The authors agree that traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes disability and deaths in the USA. CDC (2013) statistics shows that adults who are seventy five years and above are the most affected population with traumatic brain injury. This corresponds with the findings of Hemphill et al (2011). The statistics further report that emergency departments across the country report half a million casualties of traumatic brain injury. The data by Hemphill et al shows that fire arm related events are the leading causes of traumatic brain injury seconded by motor-vehicle related events. Research further shows that homicides are the major causes of traumatic brain injury among adults older than 75 years. The research that is being conducted about this area is development of many prevention modalities as well as identification of more modifiable risk factors.

Effects, treatment and prognosis

Prevention of Traumatic brain injury is recommendable. This is because regeneration of neurons becomes difficult once they have been damaged. Most of the patients require admission at the Intensive Care Center (Brain Injury Association of America, 2013). Some patients end up living with support while others recover according to the severity of injury. Research shows that prognosis depends with several factors and age is a major factor (Caroll et al, 2004). For example, mild traumatic brain injury in children tends to heal permanently.

Research Question

What are the methods of preventing traumatic brain injury among adults aged 75 years and above?

Hypothesis

Psychological counselling may help prevent traumatic brain injury among adults aged 75 years and above.

References

Brain Injury Association of America. (2013). Traumatic brain injury continuum of care. Retrieved online from HYPERLINK “http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-treatment.htm” http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-treatment.htm

Caroll, L.J., Cassidy, J.D., Peloso, M.P., Borg, J., Holst, V.H., Holm, L… & Pepin, M. (2004). Prognosis for mild traumatic brain injury: Results of the WHO collaborating center taskforce on mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine, 43: 84-105

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). National TBI estimates. Retrieved online from the CDC website: HYPERLINK “http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/statistics.html” http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/statistics.html

Hemphill, D.J., Guzman, B.R., Faul, D.M., Wald, M.M, McGuire, C.L., Basavaraju, V.S… & Coronado, V.G. (2011). Surveillance for traumatic brain injury related deaths-United State, 1997-2007. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.