What are some of the main medical treatments for traumatic brain injury?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Mild TBI can be treated with monitoring and appropriate strategies for returning to normal daily activities and sport. This doesn’t usually require medication, although medicines for managing symptoms like pain and nausea could be used.[1]

    In moderate to severe cases, patients receive emergency neurological life support with an emphasis on monitoring pressure on the brain. Surgery to relieve this pressure may be necessary.[2] Once the patient is stable, monitoring of the pressure will continue and patients may receive non-invasive treatments to reduce the pressure, such as osmotic therapy. [3]

    References

    1. ^Eapen BC, Bowles AO, Sall J, Lang AE, Hoppes CW, Stout KC, Kretzmer T, Cifu DXThe management and rehabilitation of post-acute mild traumatic brain injury.Brain Inj.(2022-Apr-16)
    2. ^Sahuquillo J, Dennis JADecompressive craniectomy for the treatment of high intracranial pressure in closed traumatic brain injury.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2019-Dec-31)
    3. ^Shi J, Tan L, Ye J, Hu LHypertonic saline and mannitol in patients with traumatic brain injury: A systematic and meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).(2020-Aug-28)