TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) AND POST TRAUMATIC EPILEPSY (PTE)
TBI in the Military
Personnel with wartime injuries have a higher incidence of missile wounds and blast injuries, both of which may cause severe impairments. TBI disrupts the normal function of the brain and is caused by a bump, blow, jolt, exposure to loud noise or a penetrating head injury. The majority of TBIs experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to a blast-related injury. TBI may lead to Post Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE), a seizure disorder.
PTE is also often associated with:
Personnel with wartime injuries have a higher incidence of missile wounds and blast injuries, both of which may cause severe impairments. TBI disrupts the normal function of the brain and is caused by a bump, blow, jolt, exposure to loud noise or a penetrating head injury. The majority of TBIs experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to a blast-related injury. TBI may lead to Post Traumatic Epilepsy (PTE), a seizure disorder.
PTE is also often associated with:
- Skull fractures
- Subdural hematomas (accumulation of blood between the brain and the skull, caused by a ruptured blood vessel)
- Intracranial hematomas/hemorrhages
- Brain contusion (bruise)