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Concussions Should be Called Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries, According to New Study

Scientists recently suggested using the term "mild traumatic brain injury" to describe a concussion, based on findings indicating that doctors treat cases of concussion with less concern than cases of traumatic brain injury. According to the Brain and Spinal Cord site, both terms indicate a brain injury, even though doctors perceive traumatic brain injury and concussion as parts of two separate diagnostic categories. In a nation in which auto accidents account for over 60% of traumatic brain injury cases, it is important for doctors, auto accident victims, and other injured victims to know that a concussion is, in fact, a brain injury.

In car accident cases resulting in mild traumatic brain injury, the trauma that occurs is typically one of two types: direct and indirect trauma.

Direct Trauma

With direct trauma, a high-impact collision causes the victim's head to hit an object in the vehicle (such as the steering wheel, windshield, or car seat). The direct contact that occurs between the brain and the skull often causes tissue damage in the brain, and contusions or hemorrhaging may occur.

Indirect Trauma

Indirect trauma occurs when a driver's or passenger's neck moves back and forth (often in the case of sudden deceleration), causing the brain to rotate inside the skull (as in the case of whiplash). As a result, nerves and tissues may be permanently damaged.

In either case, the trauma to the brain may be serious, meaning that the head injuries of car accident victims must be taken seriously. In the case of child concussions, for example, consider the following finding of the study on terminology:

In the recent study of over 400 children hospitalized for acquired brain injury, McMaster University scientists found that children who were diagnosed with concussions were discharged from hospitals (and sent back to schools) earlier than those with brain injury diagnoses. Why does this matter? When parents of a concussion victim fail to realize that their child has an actual injury to the brain, they (along with doctors) may send their child back to school and other activities too soon, creating the risk of further brain injury, a decline in academic performance, and confusion.

Adult car accident victims who sustain "concussions" and return to work or other activities too soon may suffer similar problems, especially if physicians fail to recognize the risks associated with their conditions.

If you have suffered a head injury in a Kentucky area car accident and have questions regarding cases of concussions, how to find the best treatment, or liability, feel free to contact our firm. We will answer your questions for free concerning your unique situation.

Contact us online or by phone at 866-239-0039.

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