Is There a Difference?
Every year, millions of Americans experience some type of blow or trauma to the head. There’s been significant media attention to concussions over the past few years, particularly focused on football and other contact sports. In addition, the term “traumatic brain injury,” or TBI, has come into common usage. Is there a difference between these two injuries? If so, how are they distinguished?
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when there is a sudden wound or shock to the brain, typically caused by impact in an accident. The trauma may involve a direct blow to the head with a foreign object or result from impact with a stationary object, such as a windshield. The trauma may also be associated with a sudden or violent shaking or snapping of the head, as is often the case with a whiplash injury. In those situations, the trauma to the brain results when the brain bounces off the inside of the skull. Finally, a traumatic brain injury may include penetration of the skull and brain by a sharp object.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild form of a traumatic brain injury. It typically involves a short period of loss of normal brain function but usually is not life-threatening. However, it can be extremely difficult for an untrained person to distinguish between a mild TBI—a concussion—and a serious brain injury. Both have telltale signs that can take days or even weeks to appear. A brain injury can be serious, even if you never lose consciousness. Accordingly, any time have a significant bump to the head or suffer a whiplash-like injury, you should immediately seek qualified medical treatment.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffered a concussion or other type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.
