Types of Brain Injuries

There are two primary types of acquired brain injuries: traumatic brain injury (TBI) and non-traumatic brain injury. A TBI is a brain dysfunction that is caused by an external force, such as a violent blow, bump, or jolt to the head. A TBI can be classified as an open-head injury or a closed-head injury. An open-head, or penetrating, injury is when the scalp or skull is broken, fractured, or penetrated (i.e, a bullet going through the skull). A closed-head injury is when the skull is not broken, fractured, or penetrated (i.e., head hitting a dashboard in a car accident).

Some common types of TBI’s are:

Types of TBI	Description
Concussion	Most common type of TBI that is caused by a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head and body Symptoms include: Headache or feeling “pressure” on the head Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or double/blurry vision Light and/or noise sensitivity Feeling sluggish, foggy, or confused Difficulty concentrating
Contusion	A bruise, or bleeding, on the surface of the brain caused by a strong blow to the head
Coup-contrecoup	Contusions at the site of impact on the brain (coup) and the complete opposite side of the brain (countrecoup)
Diffuse Axonal	Tearing of nerve tissues in the brain that is caused by shaking or strong rotation of the head

On the other hand, a non-traumatic brain injury is a brain dysfunction that is caused by internal factors, such as lack of oxygen, cardiac arrest, an illness, or exposure to toxins. Some most common types of non-traumatic brain injury are:

Types of Non-traumatic Brain Injury	Description
Anoxic Injury	Complete lack of oxygen to the brain, resulting in death of brain cells
Toxic/Metabolic Injury	Occurs after exposure to toxic substances (i.e., lead, chemical fumes, pesticides) or accumulation of chemicals produced in the body (i.e., kidney failure)
Encephalitis	Inflammation of the brain due to a bacterial or viral infection
Brain Tumors	A mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain
Meningitis	Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges) that is caused by a bacterial or viral infection
Stroke	Sudden interruption in blood supply of the brain
Drug Abuse	Can cause damage, injury, or death of brain cells and deprive oxygen to brain tissue
Hydrocephalus	Abnormal buildup of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain