Phineas Gage was an American railroad construction foreman in the 1800s who is remembered for his survival of an accident in which a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain’s frontal lobe. After that, his personality and behavior were so profoundly affected that friends saw him as “no longer Gage.”
Types of Brain Injury
Gage had suffered a traumatic brain injury, or TBI—the same type of injury experienced lately by several well-known individuals, including Sen. Gabby Gifford and Junior Seau. While there are two types of brain injury—TBI and acquired brain injury—what we hear about in the media mostly involves TBI, an often-puzzling condition. The Brain Injury Association of America defines it as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the causes of brain injury are falls (35.2%), motor vehicle crashes (17.3%), struck by/against events (16.5%), assault (10%) and unknown (21%).
There are many different types of TBI: diffuse axonal injury, concussion, contusion, coup-contracoup and penetrating injury, to name a few. Depending on the type of injury and its location on the brain, the outcome—including the behavior of the injured individual—varies. Brain injury can affect people of any age or gender.
Rehabilitation Takes a Team
Individuals who suffer brain injuries will begin acute rehabilitation as early as possible. In acute rehabilitation, a team of health professionals with experience and training in brain injury work with the patient to regain as many activities of daily living as possible. The team includes a physiatrist (doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation), rehabilitation nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, social worker and nutritionist. Activities of daily living include dressing, eating, toileting, walking, speaking and more.
Prevention Tips
Preventing TBI has become a public health priority. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons offers the following guidelines:
* Buy and use helmets or protective head gear for such sports as baseball, cycling, skiing and more;
* Wear a seatbelt when you drive or ride in a car;
* Do not drink alcohol and drive;
* Do not dive in water less than 12 feet deep or in an above-ground pool;
* Remove hazards at home that can contribute to falls, like scatter rugs, electrical cords, etc.; and
* Maintain safety in the bathroom for the elderly.
Finally, if you or your loved one suffers a TBI, community support is available through your local hospital, Brain Injury Association of America and even in online communities.
References
Brain Injury Association of America (2012).
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2012).
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