Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
-
Review
Biomarkers for the clinical differential diagnosis in traumatic brain injury--a systematic review.
Rapid triage and decision-making in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) present challenging dilemma in "resource poor" environments such as the battlefield and developing areas of the world. There is an urgent need for additional tools to guide treatment of TBI. The aim of this review is to establish the possible use of diagnostic TBI biomarkers in (1) identifying diffuse and focal brain injury and (2) assess their potential for determining outcome, intracranial pressure (ICP), and responses to therapy. ⋯ There is limited research focusing on the differential diagnostic properties of biomarkers in TBI. This fact warrants the need for greater efforts to innovate sensitive and reliable biomarkers. We advocate awareness and inclusion of the differentiation of injury type and ICP elevation in further studies with brain injury biomarkers.
-
Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Aug 2013
Decompressive craniectomy, interhemispheric hygroma and hydrocephalus: a timeline of events?
Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a known risk factor for the development of post-traumatic hydrocephalus. The occurrence of subdural hygroma (SH) was also reported in 23-56% of patients after DC and it seemed to precede hydrocephalus in more than 80% of cases. We analyzed the relationship among DC, SH and hydrocephalus. ⋯ Craniectomy close to the midline can predispose patients to the development of hydrocephalus. SH could be generated with the same mechanism, and these three events could be correlated on a timeline.
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Aug 2013
Case ReportsDedicated retinal examination in children evaluated for physical abuse without radiographically identified traumatic brain injury.
To determine the rate of retinal hemorrhages in children evaluated for physical abuse without traumatic brain injury (TBI) by diagnostic imaging. ⋯ Forensically significant retinal hemorrhages are unlikely to be found in children evaluated for physical abuse without TBI on neuroimaging, and such children may not require routine dedicated retinal examination.
-
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major public health problem. This review aims to present the principles upon which modern TBI management should be based. The early management phase aims to achieve haemodynamic stability, limit secondary insults (eg hypotension, hypoxia), obtain accurate neurological assessment and appropriately select patients for further investigation. ⋯ TBI is associated with a number of complications, some of which require specialist referral. Patients with post-concussion syndrome can be helped by supportive management in the context of a multi-disciplinary neurotrauma clinic and by patient support groups. Specialist neurorehabilitation after TBI is important for improving outcome.
-
Over the past 70years, diffuse axonal injury (DAI) has emerged as one of the most common and important pathological features of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Axons in the white matter appear to be especially vulnerable to injury due to the mechanical loading of the brain during TBI. As such, DAI has been found in all severities of TBI and may represent a key pathologic substrate of mild TBI (concussion). ⋯ In addition, recent evidence suggests that TBI may induce long-term neurodegenerative processes, such as insidiously progressive axonal pathology. Indeed, axonal degeneration has been found to continue even years after injury in humans, and appears to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease-like pathological changes. Here we review the current understanding of DAI as a uniquely mechanical injury, its histopathological identification, and its acute and chronic pathogenesis following TBI.