Traumatic Brain Injury Q & A

How are Traumatic Brain Injuries Diagnosed?

Traditional brain injury diagnostics tests typically focus on structural neurology. We test for structural issues and for neurological function with multiple rounds of testing to get to the root issue. This is determined through imaging testing such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) measuring your ability to speak, open your eyes, and ability to move, measurements for level of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) including level of consciousness and memory loss.

If you have experienced a car accident, sports injury, or a slip and fall accident and were diagnosed with a concussion, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. It is best to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, you may be exhibiting:

• Balance issues
• Had or have a concussion
• Memory issues
• Whiplash
• Loss of consciousness
• Mild to severe headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred or double vision
• Dilation of pupils

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms following a head injury, accident, or concussion, please seek medial attention immediately.

Services Offered:

• MRI with Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
• ImPACT (immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing)
• Balance Tracking Systems
• Videonystagmpgraphy (VNG) or Eye Movement Testing

Treatments for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Once we’ve determined the root cause of your injury, the next step is treatment:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – This treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment so your lungs can gather as much oxygen as possible in comparison to normal oxygen levels in the air. The extra oxygen in your blood stimulates growth factors that promote healing and provide a surplus of oxygen for the brain.

Vestibular Treatment – With vestibular therapy, you can treat vertigo, dizziness, gaze instability, imbalances, and falls. This form of therapy is for restorative measure for the vestibular function; the system that provides spatial awareness and balance to the body.

At Spine Center Atlanta, we have a team comprised of board-certified, top physicians and surgeons to provide patients with the most advanced surgical and non-surgical options in the comprehensive brain, spine, neck, and back care. If you are experiencing signs of a concussion or traumatic brain injury, please call or schedule an appointment immediately.