How Do Doctors Treat Brain Injuries?

After a recent car accident, you learned you sustained a traumatic brain injury. You want to get back to your life, which means overcoming the harm you sustained.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons explores surgical and non-surgical treatment options for TBIs. To build a fair case, understand your options for getting back to the life you had before the collision.

Non-surgical treatment

Currently, medicines that stimulate nerve healing or prevent nerve damage after a TBI do not exist. Instead, medical professionals use non-surgical treatments to address and prevent subsequent damage, such as increased blood temperature, decreased blood oxygenation and high blood glucose.

To detect inflammation, your medical team may recommend placing an intracranial pressure monitor in your brain. One example of an ICP monitor is a ventriculostomy, which is a hollow, flexible catheter that drains cerebrospinal fluid if pressure increases. Your physician may also suggest planting a small fiberoptic catheter in your brain tissue.

Surgical treatment

TBI patients with contusions or hematomas may require surgery to ease pressure on the brain. Patients with hematomas or contusions may benefit from a delayed surgery, because the contusion and blood clots may worsen during the first few hours or days of the patient sustaining a brain injury. The goal of surgery is to take care of the clot or contusion before it leads to neurological damage.

During TBI surgery, doctors shave the patient’s scalp before removing bone. After exposing the brain, surgeons remove the contusion or hematoma, making sure the surgical area does not bleed before replacing the bone and sealing the scalp.

Educate yourself on ways to recover from your TBI. Getting all the facts may ease your mind.