A TBI is a disruption in the normal function of the brain that is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury. The severity of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to a coma or brain death.
Disruption to normal brain function might cause:
- Loss of or decreased consciousness;
- Loss of memory of events—before or after the event;
- Focal neurological deficits such as muscle weakness, loss of vision, change in speech;
- Alteration in mental state, like disorientation, slow thinking, or difficulty concentrating.
An estimated 13.5 million individuals live with a TBI-related disability in the United States, and nearly 3 million cases occur each year. Children are particularly susceptible to a TBI injury, with over 837,000 cases occurring in children in a recent year. There are approximately 50,000 fatalities from TBI injuries each year in the U.S.
In South Carolina, there are 1,117 deaths, 2,800 hospital discharges, and 11,500 emergency department visits due to TBIs each year.