When the brain needs a saviour : Traumatic Brain Surgery

Our human brain is a masterpiece which has control over our entire body, from our heartbeat to even sleeping and dreaming. However, it is a quite delicate organ. If this delicate organ suffers any traumatic injury, the brain health takes a poll. Traumatic brain surgeries are caused by various incidents such as accidents, falls, sports injuries, or violence which has mild to severe effects on concussions or life threatening damages.

There are three levels of traumatic brain injury based on the severity of the condition, such as :

• Mild : also known as concussion, causing confusion or headaches
• Moderate : causes prolonged unconsciousness or neurological issues
• Severe : it is life threatening and causes physical and emotional challenges

What are the causes ?

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Sports injuries
• Assaults
• Falls

Traumatic brain surgery is an advanced technique to deal with traumatic brain injury. There are various reasons, surgery might be advised such as :

• Relieving intracranial pressure : swelling or bleeding in the skull increases pressure which compresses the brain and restricts the blood flow.
• Removing blood clot : clots occur when blood collects inside the brain or between the brain and skull.
• Repairing skull fractures : severe fractures push bones into the brain.

Most common traumatic brain surgeries to treat injuries are :

• Craniotomy : a procedure to remove a section of the skull to get access to the brain and replace the fragment.
• Decompressive Craniectomy : when the brain is swollen, a part of the skull is permanently removed to allow the brain to get room to expand.
• Endoscopic Surgery : minimally invasive technique to treat certain injuries.
• Skull Base surgery : complex injuries caused at the base of the skull require advanced techniques.

Traumatic brain surgery is an advanced technique to treat traumatic brain injury. Each surgery is a battle against time, precision and determination. Let’s understand these complexities and protect our delicate brains.