Contusion Treatment in Brooklyn, NYC & NJ

What Is a Contusion?

A contusion, also called a brain bruise, refers to bleeding and/or swelling in the brain caused by a strong impact to the head. It can affect the brain cells and cause various short-term and long-term effects. Some of these effects may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory problems, mood changes, seizures, brain damage or other neurological disorders. This type of injury  needs fast medical attention because of the possibilities of permanent brain damage.

The physicians  of Neuro Injury Specialists in NY and NJ are specialists in pain management and neurology. Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Leon Reyfman provide you with a clear diagnosis and a brain contusion treatment plan that may include medications, surgery, rehabilitation, counseling and education.

What Causes Contusions or Brain Bruises?

A contusion on the brain can be caused by a variety of factors that involve a strong or sudden blow to your head. This impact damages the blood vessels in the brain and causes bleeding and swelling. The severity of the contusion depends on the force and location of the impact.

Some people may be more prone to contusions than others, such as those who have blood clotting disorders, take blood thinners or have thinning of the skull due to aging.

Contusions result from common causes that cause other types of traumatic brain injuries, including:

• Car accidents
• Falls
• Sports injuries
• Assaults or domestic violence 
• Blunt force trauma

What Are the Symptoms of a Contusion?

You may need brain contusion treatment if you recognize signs that could appear immediately after the injury or later on, possibly days after the trauma. The symptoms vary depending on the severity of the contusion, as well as the individual’s age and health condition.

Some of these symptoms and signs can also be seen in other brain injuries like concussions, so you need a neurologist to make a proper diagnosis.

Some of the common signs and symptoms that you require brain bruise treatment include:

• Headache or pressure in the head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Problems with vision, hearing, speech or smell
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Confusion or disorientation
• Memory or concentration problems
• Mood changes or mood swings
• Loss of consciousness or coma
• Seizures or convulsions
• Weakness or numbness in the limbs
• Loss of coordination or movement
• Inability to awaken from sleep
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
• Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
• Slurred speech
• Significant cognitive, behavioral or emotional impairments

What Complications Can Arise from an Untreated Contusion?

If you don’t receive prompt treatment of brain contusions, a brain bruise can lead to various complications that affect the brain and other organs. The biggest danger comes from Increased intracranial pressure or hydrocephalus. This is when the fluid inside the skull builds up and puts pressure on the brain, causing damage to the brain cells and tissues.

There is also the risk of brain herniation or compression, which happens when the brain tissue shifts and squeezes through a small opening in the skull, causing life-threatening problems with breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.

Other potential complications of an untreated brain contusion include:

• Brain edema and hematomas. The brain tissue expands and presses against the skull, reducing the blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. Blood pools inside the skull and forms a mass that compresses the brain tissue and blocks the blood vessels.
• Infection or abscess. Bacteria enter the brain through the wound or the bloodstream and cause inflammation and pus formation in the brain.
• Brain damage or disability. The brain contusion affects the functions of the brain, such as memory, cognition, emotion, behavior, movement and sensation.
• Neurological disorders. The brain contusion causes problems with the nervous system, such as seizures, headaches, vertigo, post-concussion syndrome or mental illness.

What Brain Contusion Treatment Options Are Available?

The main goals of treatment  are to stop the bleeding, reduce the swelling and prevent further damage to the brain. For mild cases of contusion, the doctor may only need you to rest and apply ice to the site of injury.

The neurologist observes you for signs of which stage of traumatic brain injury  you’re exhibiting. In addition to symptoms of severe TBI, your neurologist looks for obvious exterior sings like bleeding and skull fractures.

Once you receive extensive diagnostic testing and your doctor is certain of a diagnosis, treatment for contusion options include:

• Medications. For moderate to severe cases of contusion, you may need medications to relieve pain, inflammation, fever or seizures. You may also need blood thinners to prevent blood clots, or antibiotics to prevent infection.
• For severe cases of contusion, you may need surgery to remove the blood clots, repair the skull fractures and relieve the pressure on the brain. The surgery may involve making an opening in the skull to access the brain. The surgery may also involve placing a drain or a shunt to remove excess fluid from the brain.
• Following brain contusion treatment, you may need rehabilitation to improve the physical, mental and emotional functions that may have been affected by the head trauma.

Contact Neuro Injury Specialists  in New York and New Jersey for the expertise and experience you need to provide effective contusion on the brain treatment.