Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Care

Post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) care is a complex, lifelong, and highly individualized process designed to maximize recovery, manage lasting symptoms, and help the person reintegrate into their community. This care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team and evolves through several stages.

Acute Hospital Care

Immediately following the injury, the focus is on medical stabilization in a hospital setting, often in an intensive care unit. The primary goals are to prevent secondary brain damage caused by swelling (edema), bleeding (hemorrhage), high intracranial pressure (ICP), or lack of oxygen. This involves close neurological monitoring, medications, surgical interventions if necessary, and supporting vital functions.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

Once medically stable, the patient typically transitions to a specialized brain injury rehabilitation unit. This phase involves intensive, daily therapy:

• Physical Therapy (PT): Focuses on improving gross motor skills, balance, coordination, strength, and walking (gait training).

• Occupational Therapy (OT): Helps patients relearn Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and eating. OT also works on upper body function, cognitive skills for daily tasks, and introduces compensatory strategies.

• Speech-Language Pathology (SLP): Addresses a wide range of issues, including difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia), speech articulation, language comprehension and expression, and social communication skills.

• Neuropsychology: Crucial for assessing and treating cognitive impairments (memory, attention, executive function) and managing emotional/behavioral changes like depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and irritability.

Post-Acute & Long-Term Management

Care continues after discharge through outpatient therapies and community-based support. This phase focuses on applying recovered skills to real-world settings like home, work, and school. Key elements include:

• Vocational Rehabilitation: To help return to previous employment or find new, suitable work.

• Cognitive Rehabilitation: Ongoing therapy to manage persistent cognitive deficits.

• Mental Health Support: Continuous counseling and medication management for mood disorders are often necessary.

• Medical Management: Managing long-term consequences such as post-traumatic epilepsy, sleep disturbances, and chronic headaches.