Brain injury

What do we mean by brain injury?

A brain injury can result from a traumatic event such as a road traffic accident, fall, or assault, or it can be acquired due to a stroke or infection.

The effects of a brain injury depend on its type, severity, and location within the brain. Survivors may experience limited function in their limbs, abnormal speech or language, cognitive impairment, or emotional difficulties.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital or induced by birth trauma. They can be traumatic (for example, from a car crash) or non-traumatic by nature. A non-traumatic brain injury causes damage to the brain by internal factors, such as a lack of oxygen, stroke or infection.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Traumatic Brain Injury is a specific type of ABI that results from an external force or trauma to the head. This could be from a fall, road traffic accident, assault or sport injury.

Whereas all traumatic brain injuries are acquired, not all acquired brain injuries are traumatic.

The Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) notes that road traffic collisions as the leading cause of acquired brain injury (ABI) in the children they support across the UK, making up to 20% of all referrals throughout the country.

Symptoms

The range of symptoms and the degree of recovery vary widely from person to person. Long-term symptoms can include:

• limited function in arms or legs
• mobility challenges
• speech and language difficulties
• cognitive impairments (memory loss, reduced thinking ability)
• postural and balance issues
• emotional and behavioural changes

Orthotic treatment

Following initial treatment in an acute setting, a patient will be in rehabilitative care for some time to help them restore their physical and psychological function.

Bespoke orthotic treatments can help enhance movement, prevent deformities, and improve quality of life for brain injury patients.