Brain Injury Case Management

The brain is the central organ of the human nervous system and controls most of the activities of the body and mind. It processes, integrates, and coordinates information received from sense organs around the body and makes decisions as to what instructions to send. The brain is also the centre for cognition, processing and storing information, decision making and our sense of self identity.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain. It is divided into two cerebral hemispheres. Each hemisphere is conventionally divided into four lobes – the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. The frontal lobe is associated with executive functions including self-control, planning, reasoning, and abstract thought, while the occipital lobe is dedicated to vision. Within each lobe, cortical areas are associated with specific functions, such as the sensory, motor and association regions. Although the left and right hemispheres are broadly similar in shape and function, some functions are associated with one side, such as language in the left and visual-spatial ability in the right.

How is a Brain Injury caused?

Injury to the brain can be caused by external trauma or internal factors. External trauma to the brain is termed, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and is most commonly caused by single or cumulative impacts to the head, as well as rapid acceleration, deceleration or twisting of the head. Internal trauma to the brain is termed, Acquired/Non-Traumatic brain injury (ABI), and is most commonly caused by a lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins or pressure from a tumour.

Examples of TBI incidents include:

Motor vehicle accidents
Falls
Assaults
Being hit by a large object

Examples of ABI incidents include:

Strokes
Heart Attacks
Tumours
Disease

What are the effects of a Brain Injury?

Whilst no two brain injuries are the same, the effects of a brain injury can largely depend on the severity to, and location of, the trauma within the brain. The severity to, and location of, the trauma within the brain can be determined by understanding the details of the incident that caused the injury, for example the speed and point of impact for a vehicle involved in and motor vehicle accident, and by carrying out clinical diagnostic assessment, tests and scans following the accident. The most common initial assessment of a brain injury occurs immediately after the accident and is called the of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), this gives medical professionals as an objective way of recording the state of a person’s consciousness using eye, verbal and motor responses of an injured individual. Once at a medical facility, scans such using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be utilised to obtain images of the structure and function of the brain. Once an injured individual’s condition has stabilised after injury, further cognitive and functional assessments can be carried out to obtain a greater understanding of the effects of the brain injury. Depending on the severity and location of the brain injury, it will usually be diagnosed as either mild (mTBI), moderate or severe.

Due to the role of the brain and its complex nature, brain injury can affect a broad range of functions of both the body and mind. Symptoms of a brain injury can be physical and visible/noticeable, for example reduced mobility or difficulty speaking or communicating. However, some symptoms can also be non-visible and relate to cognition, behaviour or executive functions, for example fatigue, loss of memory or low mood.

Even after a mild traumatic brain injury, brain function can be temporarily impaired, and this is often referred to as concussion. Concussion can lead to difficulties such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, depression, irritability and memory problems.

How can Brain Injury Case Management help?

Due to the complexity of brain injury, it is important that an individual who has sustained a brain injury is comprehensively supported by a team of experienced specialists. NeuroHealth’s Brain Injury Case Managers are highly skilled experienced clinicians, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Association of Brain Injury Case Management (BABICM).

A NeuroHealth Brain Injury Case Manager will have knowledge of specialist services in both the private and public sector, and through the case management process they will ensure that the individual who has sustained a brain injury is able to access the services available to them as quickly and safely as possible. The Brain injury Case Manager will tailor the service they provide to the needs of the injured individual, ensuring the induvial and their close family and friends are supported to facilitate optimal health, wellbeing and quality of life. Brain injury Case Management is a service provided in collaboration with medical, therapeutic, vocational and domestic services.

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