How to recognize and treat posttraumatic encephalopathy?

Brain trauma leads to damage to the central nervous system not only at the time of the attack, but also in the long term. This disease is most common among professional athletes, especially among boxers. Nevertheless, all people who have had previous TBI are at risk.

Definition of the concept of posttraumatic encephalopathy

90% of all severe and moderate craniocerebral trauma ends with a progressive increase in pathological changes in the central nervous system. Violation of the functional and structural state of the nervous tissue due to trauma is called posttraumatic encephalopathy of the brain. The consequences are of a persistent nature and usually increase within a year after the injury. The peculiarity of the disease is its height in the period of full recovery of the patient. Often the forecast for this condition is disappointing, and ends with a severe disability of the patient. The severity of chronic traumatic encephalopathy depends on the severity and consequences of trauma to the skull and localization of the lesion. The mechanism of damage is of secondary interest.

Cause of the disease and severity of

The craniocerebral injury, depending on the severity of the lesion, triggers a cascade of reactions leading to the development of encephalopathy. It is preceded by the following processes:

1. direct damage to brain tissue;
2. increased vascular permeability and development of edema, which interferes with normal blood supply to the body;
3. change in circulation of cerebrospinal fluid;
4. proliferation of connective tissue with the formation of adhesions;
5. production of antibodies against native nerve cells.

Traumatic encephalopathy of the brain is divided into 3 degrees of severity:

• 1 degree. The disease does not appear clinically. Gliosis changes in brain tissue can be detected using instrumental diagnostic methods;
• 2 degree. Manifestations of the disease are weak and have a nonspecific character( sleep disorder, emotional lability, memory loss);
• 3 degree. The disease acquires a pronounced neurological disorder.

How does traumatic encephalopathy manifest itself?

The brain is divided into many functional centers( hearing, sight, emotions, memory, etc.).Localization of traumatic damage and in the subsequent - discircular encephalopathy largely determines the patient's complaints. Differential diagnosis is important, since the signs of posttraumatic encephalopathy are not specific and differ little from those in ischemic processes in the brain.

The clinic of the process is represented by the following:

1. traumatic asthenia syndrome:

• general weakness, fatigue, decreased interest;
• tearfulness, emotional imbalance;
• frequent mood changes;
• insomnia;

1. personality disorder:

• antisocial behavior of a person;
• unreasonable aggression to others;
• feeling of self-pity;
• abuse of highly active drugs, alcohol;

1. convulsive syndrome( in the brain there are foci of epileptic activity);
2. pulsating headaches;
3. nausea( in the morning or at night);
4. post-traumatic parkinsonism( symptoms of Parkinson's disease, non-drug-resistant levodopa);
5. decrease in memory, intelligence.

Post-Traumatic Encephalopathy Therapy

Post-traumatic encephalopathy, the symptoms of which are described above, require an instrumental diagnosis to confirm the diagnosis and properly prescribed treatment. Setting the diagnosis, in addition to clinical manifestations, requires a carefully collected history, indicating a TBI.Not always the presence of neurological disorders and trauma in the past have a causal relationship.

Important! The diagnosis of posttraumatic encephalopathy should be made during the period of dispensary observation of the patient.

Treatment of posttraumatic encephalopathy is handled by a neurologist and psychotherapist.

The aim of disease therapy is:

1. reduction of intracranial pressure;
2. improved blood supply to the brain;
3. preventing the subsequent death of neurons of the brain;
4. improving the quality of life.

Medication therapy includes the use of nootropics, antioxidants, B vitamins, neuroprotective agents, antiepileptic drugs.

It is worth mentioning that the growth of neurological complications is due to incomplete examination of patients who have had previous TBI.

Neurologist-rehabilitologist, who knows exactly how to detect post-traumatic encephalopathy, how to treat and how to prevent it, will help prevent the development of severe consequences of the disease. Nevertheless, the patient's special attention to his health will help in his speedy recovery.