What is the Difference Between Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury

The key difference between concussion and traumatic brain injury is that concussion is caused by a mild bump, blow, jolt or hit to the head or body, while traumatic brain injury is caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head or body.

Head injuries are a common cause of disability and death among the adult population. They can be as mild as a bump, bruise, or cut on the head or a very serious injury such as a deep cut, open wound, fractured skull bone, or internal bleeding. Concussion and traumatic brain injury are two types of head injuries.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Concussion  
3. What is Traumatic Brain Injury
4. Similarities – Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury
5. Concussion vs Traumatic Brain Injury in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Concussion vs Traumatic Brain Injury

What is Concussion?

A concussion is caused by a mild bump, blow, jolt or hit to the head or body. However, violent shaking of the head and upper body may also sometimes result in a concussion. Most concussions do not cause people to lose consciousness. But some concussions can cause people to lose consciousness for a while. Falls are the most common reason for concussions. Moreover, concussions are also likely to be seen in contact sports like football or soccer. Usually, most people recover soon and fully after a concussion. The common symptoms of a concussion include headache, loss of memory, confusion, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, fatigue or drowsiness, blurry vision, dizziness, or “seeing stars.” The complications resulting from concussion include post-traumatic headache, post-traumatic vertigo, post-concussive syndrome, cumulative effects of multiple brain injuries, and second impact syndrome.

Concussions can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, neurological examination, cognitive testing, and imaging testing (CT scan and MRI). Furthermore, the treatment options for concussion may include physical and mental rest, returning to routine work, and pain relief (acetaminophen and ibuprofen).

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury occurs due to a violent blow or jolt to the head/body. An object that goes through the brain tissue, like a bullet or shattered piece of the skull, may also cause traumatic brain injury. The symptoms may include headache, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, problems with speech (slurred speech), dizziness or loss of balance, loss of consciousness (from minutes to hours), persistent headache or headache worsening gradually, sensory issues like blurred vision, sensitivity to light or sound, a bad taste in the mouth, ringing in the ears, etc. profound confusion, inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of pupils, convulsions or seizures, weakness or numbness in fingers and toes, clear fluids draining from the nose or ears, loss of coordination, agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior.

The complications resulting from traumatic brain injury include coma, vegetative state (widespread brain damage), minimally conscious state, brain death, fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus), infections, blood vessels damage, paralysis of facial muscles, depression, anxiety, degenerative brain disorder (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s’ disease and dementia pugilistica).

Traumatic brain injury can be diagnosed through clinical evaluation, the Glasgow coma scale, imaging testing (CT scan and MRI), and intracranial pressure monitoring. Furthermore, the treatment options for traumatic brain injury may include rest, over-the-counter medicines for headaches, immediate emergency care (adequate blood supply, maintaining blood pressure, preventing any further injury to head or neck), medications (anti-seizure drugs, coma-inducing drugs, diuretics), surgery (removing clotted blood, repairing skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, opening a window in the skull) and rehabilitation (psychological therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, and language therapy).

What are the Similarities Between Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury?

• Concussion and traumatic brain injury are two types of head injuries.
• Both conditions can be a result of a blow, jolt, or hit to the head or body.
• Both conditions may show similar symptoms.
• These conditions can cause complications.
• They can be diagnosed through physical examinations and imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs.
• They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury?

A concussion is caused by a mild bump, blow, jolt or hit to the head or body, while traumatic brain injury is caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. Thus, this is the key difference between concussion and traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, concussion is a mild form of head injury, while traumatic brain injury is a severe form of head injury.

The below infographic presents the differences between concussion and traumatic brain injury in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Concussion vs Traumatic Brain Injury

Head injuries can cause mild or severe complications. Different head injuries include concussions, traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, intracranial hematoma, etc. Therefore, concussions and traumatic brain injuries are two different types of head injuries. A concussion is caused by a mild bump, blow, jolt or hit to the head or body, while traumatic brain injury is caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. So, this summarizes the difference between concussion and traumatic brain injury.

Reference:

1. “Concussion.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 17 Feb. 2022.
2. “Traumatic Brain Injury.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 4 Feb. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Concussion Anatomy” By Max Andrews – Own work. This file was derived from Concussion mechanics.svg (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Traumaticbraininjury2010” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia