About Brain Injuries

A brain injury can affect your cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical function.

The injuries have a variety of causes, including:

• Brain tumors
• Intracranial hemorrhages (bleeding that happens inside the head)
• Motor vehicle crashes
• Central nervous system infections

Types of Brain Injuries

There are various types of brain injuries. Some are more severe than others, and each come with different symptoms.

Brain injuries can include:

• Concussions
• Contusions
• Skull fractures
• Anoxia
• Hypox​ia

Brain injuries can be closed or open, and diffuse or focal.

Closed versus open brain injuries

Closed brain injuries

When there is no penetration of the skull.

Open brain injuries

When something drives through the skull and into brain tissues.

Diffuse versus focal brain injuries

Diffuse brain injuries

When the injury is spreading across the brain.

Focal brain injuries

When the injury is limited to one space.