Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or by an object that penetrates the skull. It ranges from a mild concussion to a severe, life-threatening injury. Blast exposure, falls, vehicle crashes, and sports are common causes.

Symptoms Of TBI

Symptoms depend on how severe the injury is. TBI is usually grouped as mild, moderate, or severe.

Mild TBI Symptoms

Headache
Confusion
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Fatigue
Changes in sleep
Mood changes
Trouble with memory or concentration

Moderate To Severe TBI Symptoms

A headache that persists or gets worse
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Seizures
Inability to wake up
Dilated pupils
Slurred speech
Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
Loss of coordination
Profound confusion or agitation

These symptoms after a head injury need emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Diagnosis Of TBI

Symptom and injury review: what happened, when, and what you have noticed since.
Neurological exam: a check of thinking, movement, sensation, balance, and reflexes.
Imaging: a CT scan or MRI to look for bleeding, swelling, or structural injury.
Glasgow Coma Scale: a standard 3 to 15 point scale clinicians use to rate level of consciousness and injury severity.

Key Characteristics Of TBI

Sudden onset: TBI is caused by an external force.
Range of severity: from a mild concussion to a life-threatening injury.
Lasting effects are possible: even a mild TBI can cause symptoms that persist.
Wide reach: TBI can affect physical, cognitive, and emotional function.

How TBI Affects The Brain

Direct tissue damage: the initial force can injure brain cells and the connections between them.
Chemical changes: injury can disrupt the brain's chemical signaling.
Blood vessel damage: injury can cause bleeding or reduced blood flow.
Swelling: swelling can raise pressure inside the skull, which is a medical emergency in severe TBI.

Research also describes a secondary inflammatory response that can continue after the initial injury.

Long-Term Effects

Some people live with symptoms for months or years, including:

Persistent headaches
Memory and concentration difficulties
Changes in behavior or personality

TBI is also associated with a higher risk of epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and other forms of dementia.

Treatment Options For TBI

Rest and rehabilitation are the standard of care, and they are necessary. Some patients continue to have symptoms afterward. Research is studying whether treatments that target post-injury inflammation can improve TBI symptoms.

Two treatments studied for their effects on post-injury inflammation are ketamine and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Both are used off-label for TBI.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Inflammation: laboratory and clinical research associates ketamine with reduced inflammatory signaling.
Neuroprotection: laboratory research has studied whether ketamine helps protect brain cells after injury.

At Mind Spa, IV ketamine is given at low doses with continuous monitoring. Learn more about ketamine infusion therapy.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Oxygen delivery: breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber raises the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood. HBOT is studied for its effects on brain oxygenation after injury.
Inflammation: research associates HBOT with changes in inflammatory markers.
Blood vessels and neuroplasticity: studies have examined HBOT's effects on blood vessel growth and neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new connections.

Mind Spa provides HBOT in hard-sided 2.0 ATA chambers. Learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Ketamine and HBOT are being studied as options for some patients with persistent TBI symptoms. Individual results vary. They should be administered under careful medical supervision as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Important Information

Ketamine and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are not FDA-approved or FDA-cleared for traumatic brain injury. Mind Spa uses them off-label. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.

Mind Spa is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can dial 988 and press 1.

Mind Spa is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at 5340 S. Quebec St., Suite 230S, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Call 303-327-0350 or complete the new patient paperwork to get started.

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Citations

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