Traumatic Brain Injury in the Military

Abstract

Although it is agreed that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is not a newly discovered injury in either military or civilian medical science, the frequency of incidents during the past 7 ½ years of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have cast a bright light on the subject. Definitions of TBI are most frequently recognized by starting from the idea that a specific event has caused a deviation in brain function. A diagnosis based on multiple factors will lead to classifications of TBI varying from mild to severe. The most common variable that exists in all forms of TBI is blast. Blast is undoubtedly what makes military and civilian cases of TBI divisible. Injury related to blast is categorized as resulting in a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary blast injury, which is calculated by the relationship of the Soldier and the explosion. The mildest forms of TBI, normally defined as closed head injuries resulting from a primary blast are easy to diagnose in individuals that appear dazed or confused. Complexities begin to emerge in diagnosis when another gross injury, naturally, takes precedence. These cases can often be missed initially and then discovered later on during follow up care. The home station apparatus for diagnosis has significantly improved over the past few years, but inconsistencies become more frequent the further diagnosis is made from the point of an event. While significant progress has been made to help returning veterans deal with TBI, much is left to understand about the injury and care structures that continue to work to support veterans.