A brain injury can take place in the event of major trauma to the head. The injury happens to be strong and penetrating or non-penetrating or mild in case one’s head gets a blow in an accident or collision. The intensity of brain injuries, however, varies. Many recover from the impact of brain injury of a mild type within a few weeks.
Dr. Curtis Cripe is specialized in treating such brain injuries. He is also an expert in the management of neurodevelopment in children and his neuro-engineering background has helped him immensely to utilize his in-depth knowledge and insight in the treatment of brain injuries and neurodevelopmental issues in kids successfully.
Who Can Become A Victim Of Brain Injury?
Typically, any individual can come across a brain injury, even if the statistics show that approximately 80% of the victims are males. Brain injury is equally more commonly found in elderly people aged over 65. According to Dr. Curtis Cripe, the basic reason for this is aged individuals are more vulnerable to losing body balance causing falling as well as hitting heads. Similarly, these kinds of injuries are also experienced by infants due to incidents like falling from their beds. Those who are involved in different professions like construction workers, military men, police services as well as athletes also come across brain injury.
The severity of one’s head injury is initially evaluated by various symptoms such as reports of vomiting or nausea, balance disorder, headache, issues related to speech, drowsiness, dizziness, etc.
Diagnosis and Tests
A brain injury specialist like Dr. Curtis Cripe will examine you and also inquire about the problems you are facing followed by the accident. The physician also checks the symptoms and asks about the causes of the injury. Accordingly, based on the severity of your injury as well as systems, you may require to undergo certain evaluation test procedures. Neurologists with expertise in brain injury examine your thinking ability, memory, and motor functionalities, such as balance, coordination, and reflexes apart from sensory functions including vision and hearing.
MRI: Thereafter an MRI or CT scan will be performed to check the injuries and abnormalities in brain cells and also ensure if there has been a brain swelling or hemorrhage.
Blood test: A highly advanced blood test procedure known as Brain-derived neurotrophic factor may be considered apart from general blood tests. With the BDNF blood test, the protein levels are measured and this helps in measuring the criticality phase of a patient. The test helps the doctor to predict the chances of recovery of the patient and according to mapping if the patient needs a special standard of treatment to address the issue.
How Is Brain Injury Treated Or Managed?
People with minor to moderate brain injuries generally need minimal treatment. However, for severity, people often require to be hospitalized for having the necessary standard of hospital care and advanced treatments.
According to Dr. Curtis Cripe, after necessary treatment, counseling apart from physical, occupational, and speech therapy is often prescribed as they help victims get faster recovery. The doctors also suggest rest for a few days before returning to their normal activities.
