When is brain damage evident in a head trauma victim?

Question

The individual is 29 yrs old, auto accident one week ago, still in coma, the neuro has discontinued the monitor for the brain pressures... the patient is not responding to painful stimuli. His pressures prior to removing the monitor, were 20's to 60's, he is on a respirator

Answer 1

The evidence is already there; he's in a coma and is on a ventilator. It's good that his pressure is under control. No one can predict how long it will take for him to wake up, if ever. If he does,
there are predictable stages in the recovery. The Rancho Los Amigos Head Trauma Scale has 8 stages, each describing, in ascending order, the recovery of abilities. Right now he is Level 1. When he responds to painful stimuli, Level 2. Level three is locating toward the source of the stmuli. Level 4 is combativeness with confusion.. Level 5 is agitated and confused, level 6 is confusion without agitation, level 7 is robotic without confusion, and 8 is pretty close to baseline.
Speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy can start between levels 2 and 3. In the meantime, play soft music that he enjoys, hold his hand, and talk to him as though he could understand you. Familiar voices help to engage the brain.

Answer 2

It can be evident right away, but the long-term prognosis is difficult to tell because people can recover in remarkable ways. The brain is very adaptable and if one area becomes damaged, often times other areas can learn to take over that function. It all depends on the type of injury. location in the brain, severity, age of the person, etc... People heal from brain injuries for about 6-12 months, so as bad as things might look early on there is always a chance things can dramatically improve.

Answer 3

i used to work at a neuro rehabilitation clinic...they usually act strange and have seizures depending on the severity of the TBI

Answer 4

When the person complains of "wooziness" or dizziness; when the person has balance problems; severe headaches, and one or both eyes being dilated.