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Traumatic brain injury

Show Alternative Names
Concussion
Brain injury - concussion
Traumatic brain injury - concussion
Closed head injury - concussion

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when the head hits an object, or a moving object strikes the head. There are three types of TBI:

  • Mild TBI, also called a concussion
  • Moderate TBI
  • Severe TBI

Concussion - Animation

A pretty good bump on the head, or a violent collision, can leave you feeling woozy and confused, and with a splitting headache. If it's bad enough, you may even lose consciousness. So, what causes a concussion? Your brain is a delicate organ encased in bone, your skull. When you fall down, suffer violent contact during a sports activity, or hit your head in a car accident, your brain moves but has nowhere to go. Instead, it swirls around inside your head and bumps into your skull. This causes bruising that damages your brain. The classic symptom of a concussion is loss of consciousness. But many people might experience only a brief moment of amnesia or disorientation. Typically, you'll have a headache, feel sleepy, and you may even vomit. Most likely you will not be able to think straight, that is, maybe you can't remember the date or your name. You may see flashing lights and even feel like you've lost time. Sometimes, it may take a day or two after the blow for some symptoms to develop. Your doctor will do a physical exam, checking your pupils, your ability to think, your coordination, and your reflexes. The doctor may want to look for bleeding in your brain, so you may need a CT or MRI scan. You may also have a brain wave test, or EEG. So, how do we treat a concussion? First and foremost, you will need to rest and be watched -- sometimes in the hospital, and sometimes by a parent, friend, or spouse if you're at home. For your headache, you can take acetaminophen. You may need to eat a light diet for a while if you continue to feel sick, or feel like vomiting. You'll want to have someone stay with you for the first 12 to 24 hours after your concussion. It's okay to sleep, but someone should wake you up every few hours and ask you a simple question, such as your name, and then watch you for changes in how you look or act. Obviously, if you were playing sports when you received a concussion, you most likely will need to stop. Sometimes you can't return to a sport for weeks, or longer, especially if your symptoms don't improve. That's because once you've had a concussion, it's easier to get another one, and multiple concussions can lead to long-term brain damage.

A TBI can affect how the brain works. The degree of impaired brain function and other symptoms and how long they will last depends on how severe the TBI is. A TBI may lead to headaches, changes in alertness, loss of consciousness, memory loss, and changes in thinking. Moderate to severe TBIs can cause life-long health problems.

Causes

TBIs can be caused by:

  • Falls
  • Sports injuries
  • Vehicular accidents
  • Assaults

Penetrating injuries to the skull, such as from a gunshot or other trauma can cause moderate to severe TBIs.

A big movement of the brain (called jarring) in any direction can cause a person to lose alertness (become unconscious). This movement can cause:

  • The brain to bounce or twist around in the skull
  • Chemical changes in the brain
  • Damage to brain cells

How long the person stays unconscious may be a sign of how bad the TBI is.

Concussion - Animation

In a severe impact to the head, the brain moves and hits the skull causing injury. During a boxing match, the brain moves from side to side after the impact of a punch. Following a concussion head injury, confusion and disorientation due to temporary distortion of the brain may result.

Symptoms

TBI symptoms can change during recovery and are different for each person. Some symptoms may not occur right away and show up a few days or weeks later.

Symptoms of a milder TBI or concussion can include:

  • Acting somewhat confused, feeling unable to concentrate, or not thinking clearly
  • Being drowsy, hard to wake up, or similar changes
  • Headache
  • Loss of consciousness for a fairly short period of time
  • Memory loss (amnesia) of events before the injury or right after
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Seeing flashing lights, light sensitivity
  • Feeling like you have "lost time"
  • Sleep abnormalities

Mild TBIs do not always lead to loss of consciousness. Most people never pass out. They may describe seeing all white, all black, or stars. A person can also have a mild TBI and not realize it.

The following are emergency symptoms of a more severe TBI. Seek medical care right away if there are:

  • Changes in alertness and consciousness
  • Confusion that does not go away
  • Seizures
  • Muscle weakness on one or both sides of the body
  • Pupils of the eyes that are not equal in size
  • Symptoms in just one eye
  • Unusual eye movements
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Walking or balance problems
  • Unconsciousness for a longer period of time or that continues (coma)

Head injuries that cause a TBI often occur with injury to the neck and spine. Take special care when moving people who have had a head injury.

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. The person's nervous system will be checked. There may be changes in the person's pupil size, thinking ability, coordination, and reflexes.

Tests that may be done include:

  • Blood and urine tests
  • EEG (brain wave test) may be needed if seizures continue
  • Head CT (computerized tomography) scan
  • MRI of the brain (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain
  • X-rays

Treatment

For a mild brain injury, no treatment may be needed. But be aware that the symptoms of a brain injury can show up later.

Your providers will explain what to expect, how to manage any headaches, how to treat your other symptoms, when to return to sports, school, work, and other activities, and signs or symptoms to worry about.

Both adults and children must follow the provider's instructions about when it will be possible to return to sports.

You will likely need to stay in the hospital if:

  • Emergency or more severe symptoms of head injury are present
  • There is a skull fracture
  • There is any bleeding under your skull or in your brain

Outlook (Prognosis)

Healing or recovering from a TBI takes time. It may take days to weeks, or even months. During that time you may:

  • Be withdrawn, easily upset, or confused, or have other mood changes
  • Have a hard time with tasks that require memory or concentration
  • Have mild headaches
  • Be less tolerant of noise
  • Be very tired
  • Feel dizzy
  • Have blurry vision at times

These problems will probably recover slowly. You may want to get help from family or friends for making important decisions.

In a small number of people, symptoms of the TBI do not go away. The risk for these long-term changes in the brain is higher after more than one TBI.

Seizures may occur after more severe head injuries. You or your child may need to take anti-seizure medicines for a period of time.

More severe TBIs may result in many brain and nervous system problems.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

  • A head injury causes changes in alertness.
  • A person has other worrisome symptoms.
  • Symptoms do not go away or are not improving after 2 or 3 weeks.

Contact your provider right away if the following symptoms occur:

  • Increased sleepiness or difficulty waking up
  • Stiff neck
  • Changes in behavior or unusual behavior
  • Changes in speech (slurred, difficult to understand, does not make sense)
  • Confusion or problems thinking straight
  • Double vision or blurred vision
  • Fever
  • Fluid or blood leaking from the nose or ears
  • Headache that is getting worse, lasts a long time, or does not get better with over-the-counter pain relievers
  • Problems walking or talking
  • Seizures (jerking of the arms or legs without control)
  • Vomiting more than 3 times

If symptoms do not go away or are not improving a lot after 2 or 3 weeks, contact your provider.

Prevention

Not all head injuries can be prevented. Increase safety for you and your child by following these steps:

  • Always use safety equipment during activities that could cause a head injury. These include seat belts, bicycle or motorcycle helmets, and hard hats.
  • Always use child safety seats in a car.
  • Learn and follow bicycle safety recommendations.

Do not drink and drive. Do not allow yourself to be driven by someone who may have been drinking alcohol or is otherwise impaired.

Review Date: 11/2/2023

Reviewed By

Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 06/24/2024.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion. About mild TBI and concussion. https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/about/index.html. Updated April 29, 2024. Accessed June 21, 2024.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion. About moderate and severe TBI. www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/about/moderate-severe-tbi.html. Updated January 22, 2024. Accessed June 21, 2024.

McClincy MP, Olgun ZD, Dede O. Orthopedics. In: Zitelli, BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 22.

Papa L, Goldberg SA. Head trauma. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 33.

Taylor AM, Meehan WP, Proctor MR. Sports-related traumatic brain injury (concussion). In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 729.

Trofa DP, Caldwell J-M E, Li XJ. Concussion and brain injury. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 126.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Concussion - Animation

A blow to the head can cause the brain to move and hit the skull. Here, a punch in a boxing match shakes the brain from side to side. A concussion can cause major confusion due to brain distortion.

 

Concussion - Animation

A pretty good bump on the head, or a violent collision, can leave you feeling woozy and confused, and with a splitting headache. If it's bad enough, you may even lose consciousness.

So, what causes a concussion?

Your brain is a delicate organ encased in bone, your skull. When you fall down, suffer violent contact during a sports activity, or hit your head in a car accident, your brain moves but has nowhere to go. Instead, it swirls around inside your head and bumps into your skull. This causes bruising that damages your brain.

The classic symptom of a concussion is loss of consciousness. But many people might experience only a brief moment of amnesia or disorientation. Typically, you'll have a headache, feel sleepy, and you may even vomit. Most likely you will not be able to think "straight," that is, maybe you can't remember the date or your name. You may see flashing lights and even feel like you've "lost time." Sometimes, it may take a day or two after the blow for some symptoms to develop.

Your doctor will do a physical exam, checking your pupils, your ability to think, your coordination, and your reflexes. The doctor may want to look for bleeding in your brain, so you may need a CT or MRI scan. You may also have a brain wave test, or EEG.

So, how do we treat a concussion?

First and foremost, you will need to rest and be watched -- sometimes in the hospital, and sometimes by a parent, friend, or spouse if you're at home.

For your headache, you can take acetaminophen. You may need to eat a light diet for a while if you continue to feel sick, or feel like vomiting. You'll want to have someone stay with you for the first 12 to 24 hours after your concussion. It's okay to sleep, but someone should wake you up every few hours and ask you a simple question, such as your name, and then watch you for changes in how you look or act.

Obviously, if you were playing sports when you received a concussion, you most likely will need to stop. Sometimes you can't return to a sport for weeks, or longer, especially if your symptoms don't improve. That's because once you've had a concussion, it's easier to get another one, and multiple concussions can lead to long-term brain damage.

 

Concussion - Animation

A blow to the head can cause the brain to move and hit the skull. Here, a punch in a boxing match shakes the brain from side to side. A concussion can cause major confusion due to brain distortion.

 

Concussion - Animation

A pretty good bump on the head, or a violent collision, can leave you feeling woozy and confused, and with a splitting headache. If it's bad enough, you may even lose consciousness.

So, what causes a concussion?

Your brain is a delicate organ encased in bone, your skull. When you fall down, suffer violent contact during a sports activity, or hit your head in a car accident, your brain moves but has nowhere to go. Instead, it swirls around inside your head and bumps into your skull. This causes bruising that damages your brain.

The classic symptom of a concussion is loss of consciousness. But many people might experience only a brief moment of amnesia or disorientation. Typically, you'll have a headache, feel sleepy, and you may even vomit. Most likely you will not be able to think "straight," that is, maybe you can't remember the date or your name. You may see flashing lights and even feel like you've "lost time." Sometimes, it may take a day or two after the blow for some symptoms to develop.

Your doctor will do a physical exam, checking your pupils, your ability to think, your coordination, and your reflexes. The doctor may want to look for bleeding in your brain, so you may need a CT or MRI scan. You may also have a brain wave test, or EEG.

So, how do we treat a concussion?

First and foremost, you will need to rest and be watched -- sometimes in the hospital, and sometimes by a parent, friend, or spouse if you're at home.

For your headache, you can take acetaminophen. You may need to eat a light diet for a while if you continue to feel sick, or feel like vomiting. You'll want to have someone stay with you for the first 12 to 24 hours after your concussion. It's okay to sleep, but someone should wake you up every few hours and ask you a simple question, such as your name, and then watch you for changes in how you look or act.

Obviously, if you were playing sports when you received a concussion, you most likely will need to stop. Sometimes you can't return to a sport for weeks, or longer, especially if your symptoms don't improve. That's because once you've had a concussion, it's easier to get another one, and multiple concussions can lead to long-term brain damage.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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