@@include("../includes/head.inc", {"p": "../"})@@ @@include("../includes/eula-check.inc", {"p": "../"})@@
Major advances in protective and medical technology have vastly increased survival rates among wounded U.S. Service members. They have also introduced new challenges to care for increasing numbers of Veterans and Service Members with extremely complex injuries, particularly poly-trauma and traumatic brain injury.
"Poly-trauma" was termed by VA to describe injuries to multiple body parts and organs occurring as a result of blast-related wounds seen in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently occurs in poly-trauma in combination with other disabling conditions, such as amputation, auditory and visual impairments, spinal cord injury (SCI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other medical conditions. Veterans and Service members with poly-trauma can require an extraordinary level of coordinated and integrated clinical and other support services.
TBI may occur anytime the head is shaken or hit, causing concussion or closed head injury and unfortunately has become a signature wound of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
TBI may occur from any event that impacts the head, such as blast exposures, motor vehicle crashes, or falls. TBIs also may be caused by flying debris or being physically thrown against the ground or other hard surface. The severity of a TBI may range from mild to moderate to severe. Veterans with more severe TBIs are at greater risk for long term complications.
The severity of a TBI is defined by looking at three factors at the time of the head injury
Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the TBI. Mild TBI (mTBI) symptoms may include
Many Veterans who sustain mild TBIs recover completely. However, in some instances, Veterans may develop
Veterans who sustain more severe TBIs may be at risk for
Neurobehavioral symptoms are common in both men and women with TBI. Women are more likely to have associated depression and anxiety disorders.