Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Caused by an outside force — a blow, jolt, or penetrating wound to the head.
- Falls (the most common cause)
- Car, bike, and motorcycle crashes
- Sports and recreation injuries
- Assaults and violence
- Blast injuries
The basics
What is a brain injury?
A brain injury is any damage to the brain that happens after birth. Doctors usually split them into two groups depending on the cause.
Acquired / Non-traumatic Brain Injury (ABI)
Caused by something happening inside the body, not by a hit to the head.
- Stroke (blocked or burst blood vessel)
- Lack of oxygen (cardiac arrest, drowning, overdose)
- Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis
- Brain tumours
- Toxins, including alcohol and drugs
How severe is it?
Mild
Brief or no loss of consciousness (under 30 min). Concussion is a mild TBI — but “mild” does not mean unimportant.
Moderate
Unconscious from 30 minutes up to 24 hours. Often needs hospital care and rehabilitation.
Severe
Unconscious for more than 24 hours. Usually leads to long-term changes and needs ongoing support.
Common types
Kinds of brain injury
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