Damage to a major blood vessel within the head can cause a hematoma, or heavy bleeding into or around the brain. The severity of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to the extremes of coma or even death. A coma is a profound or deep state of unconsciousness. Symptoms of a TBI may include headache, nausea, confusion or other cognitive problems, a change in personality, depression, irritability, and other emotional and behavioral problems. Immediate treatment for TBI involves surgery to control bleeding in and around the brain, monitoring and controlling intracranial pressure, insuring adequate blood flow to the brain, and treating the body for other injuries and infection.
Doctors often use the Glasgow Coma Scale to rate the extent of injury and chances of recovery.
A high score indicates a good prognosis and a low score indicates a poor prognosis. Much of this research focuses on increasing scientific understanding of these disorders and finding ways to prevent and treat them. J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, PA pp. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Section 14, Chapter 175, Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, pp.