Brain injuries are not uncommon in car accident victims. You may think that your brain is safe and secure inside the protection of your skull, but the reality is that the extreme forces at play during a car crash can cause you to bump your head on the steering wheel, the dashboard, or even the headrest. When enough force is applied, you may be left with lasting injuries. So, what are the different kinds of brain injuries that may be sustained by victims of an accident? And how common are brain injuries after a wreck? Read on as we dive deeper on this subject.
First, let’s look at a few examples of brain injury. You may not realize it, but there are actually several differs types:
- Caused by a mild blow to the neck or head, concussions occur when your brain moves or twists within the skull.
- A bruise on the brain, also caused by significant trauma to the head.
- Coup-Contrecoup. A coup injury occurs on the site of impact, and a contrecoup injury occurs on the side opposite the point of impact. Put them together and you’ve got a double brain injury, typically caused by a particularly violent blow to the head.
- Just as it sounds, penetrating brain injuries occur when a foreign object penetrates the brain tissue, often getting lodged.
Symptoms of the above traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are as follows:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Vision impairment
So, exactly how common are TBIs after an automobile accident? After all, there are roughly 6 million or more accidents across the entire country per year. Not all accidents result in fatalities, and not all accident victims are seriously injured. According to the CDC, there were over 223,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2019 and over 64,000 deaths in 2020. Of course, not every one of these cases involves a driving incident, though it is very common to see TBIs after an accident.
If you’ve suffered from a traumatic brain injury, what can chiropractic care do for you? A chiropractor is an expert in restoring function to the spine and the nervous system. TBIs range from mild to severe, but chiropractic may be able to alleviate symptoms and improve overall function. Here at Wirth Chiropractic, we believe in holistic care that encourages and stimulates your body’s natural healing properties. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation to get started!
