Post traumatic brain injury symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe depending upon the initial injury, the initial treatments and the appropriate rehabilitation which the individual should receive posts injury. Symptom of traumatic brain injury can be delayed, especially when those injuries are suffered by children in the sporting arena and are mild in nature. It is these mild traumatic brain injuries which often have long-term effects that are devastating to families and individuals. These symptoms do not appear at the time of injury but develop gradually over the coming days and weeks and effect a significant change in the coping mechanisms and the ability of the individual to function through their daily lives.
However, on the other side of the coin, a research study published in early 2008 by the U.S. Army medical researchers revealed that combat troops who served in Iraq, and were thought to have mild traumatic brain injury or concussion, may have actually been suffering from posttraumatic stress. (1)
After examining 2500 infantry troops for three or four months after returning, and using validated screening questionnaires distinguishing soldiers who reported a mild traumatic brain injury from soldiers who reported other types of injuries, researchers found about individuals who suffer from a mild traumatic brain injury and loss of consciousness were significantly more likely to report missed days of work, poor general health and a high number of symptoms than those who reported having other injuries. Researchers concluded that mild traumatic brain injury that occurred in soldiers deployed in Iraq was strongly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and other physical health problems.
The results of this research points to the fact that individuals who suffer from a mild traumatic brain injury do not suffer in a vacuum. In other words, individuals who suffer from one injury are not immune from suffering from others which can significantly complicate the treatment and rehabilitation of the injury.
Significant to this research is a management of the expectations of soldiers who are returning to the United States with a mild traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder in order to decrease their risk of long-term problems and improve the expectation for recovery.
Posttraumatic amnesia is another symptom of traumatic brain injury that can last anywhere from 24 hours to becoming permanent. Those suffering from severe traumatic brain injury may have a permanent posttraumatic amnesia. When patients begin to retain information, such as the current month and year, physicians believe they have emerged from posttraumatic amnesia and are entering into their recovery phase. Depending upon the area of the brain damaged and the severity of damage, this can last anywhere from 24 hours to years.
Other symptoms of a traumatic brain injury that can occur hours or days following the injury will include headache, loss of consciousness, vomiting, problems seeing, speaking or moving, confusion, drainage of clear fluid from the nose or decreased reactiveness of the pupils. These symptoms are caused by swelling of the brain inside the skull. The more swelling, the more trauma which occurred and the higher incidence of the problem becoming an emergency.
A delay in symptoms of a traumatic brain injury is commonly caused by an epidural hematoma. This is the type of injury often caused by a skull fracture where the bleeding occurs between the skull and the brain covering and results in both swelling of the brain and a shift in the brain tissue because of the continued believing.
This is a very treatable condition if the patient is quickly transferred to a hospital and physicians are aware of the problem. Unfortunately, there is also usually very little time to correct the problem and unless families have been advised of the post traumatic brain injury symptoms which can occur from an epidural bleed, it can be fatal.
(1) RAND: One In Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression
RESOURCES
US Department of Veterans Affairs: Traumatic Brain Injury
MayoClinic: Traumatic Brain Injury