Traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common, complex, and costly condition. It is a multidimensional and highly complex condition and an important cause of disability and mortality all around the world. To date, there are no effective treatments available that are able to mitigate subacute injuries and improve long-term functional recovery in TBI. A major reason that several experimental treatments for TBI have failed in the past is the appreciation that TBI is not a single acute event but chronic and progressive tissue damage. Better understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of brain injuries, new biomarkers, advanced neuroimaging, and the reorganization of trauma systems have led to a significant reduction in deaths and disability resulting from TBI. In this chapter, we discuss the pathophysiology, classification, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of this condition.