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National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY MONTH

As we March into spring, Sabetha Community Hospital recognizes Traumatic Brain Injury month. TBI is a type of an acquired brain injury which occurs with trauma to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head, a bump or a penetrating head injury. The severity of the condition can range from mild such as a brief change in mental status to severe problems resulting in amnesia. Around 50,000 deaths occur because of TBI every year and 85,000 individuals suffer long-term disabilities.

Understanding TBI
This is a complex injury that can present a wide range of symptoms and disabilities. There are two categories for TBI: mild and severe.
Mild TBI will be considered if an individual losses consciousness and/or has confusion and disorientation for a duration less than 30 minutes. Even when the MRI and CAT scans are normal, the affected individual could continue to have cognitive problems such as difficulty thinking, attention deficits and memory problems which can have a devastating effect on the family and the injured person.

The other category is severe TBI which is associated with loss of consciousness lasting more than 30 minutes and memory loss longer than 24 hours after the injury. The affected individuals could have limited function of their limbs, abnormal speech and loss of thinking ability. The degree of recovery is variable and is based on an individual level. For those with severe TBI, long-term rehabilitation is often required to maximize function.

Treatment Options and Rehabilitation
It is important to understand that no two brain injuries are the same. Based on the severity of the condition, the treatment may be required continuously or on an intermittent basis throughout the patient's life. Rehabilitation enables a relearning process so the individual can recover by learning new ways to compensate for abilities that were lost because of the injury. The goal of rehabilitation is to ensure the individual can perform their activities of daily needs safely and independently.

Few Safety Tips and Prevention of TBI
Prevention of TBI is considered the best approach as there is no cure. Some of the general prevention tips include always wearing a seat belt, do not drink and drive, wear a helmet when participating in contact sports or sport activities such as skiing, skating, and skateboarding or riding a bike or scooter. Also ensure no obstacles are placed on walking pathways, ensure adequate lighting on places like stairs, using gates at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent falls and using playgrounds with soft material.

Your safety is our concern! So, if you have fallen or have been involved in any type of incident which could result in a brain injury, contact your physician or call Sabetha Family Practice at (785) 284-2141 to make an appointment with one of the local providers.
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