ABSTRACT
The most frequent acquired traumatic brain injuries are usually classified as "closed", where there is no cut or break through the skull. Complications might follow the initial injury and could exacerbate the initial extent of the brain damage occurring from the head injury. Damage to the brain can also occur through infections such as herpes encephalitis, tumours, metabolic conditions including liver and kidney disease or diabetic complications, toxins, and cerebral–vascular incidents such as subarachnoid haemorrhages, aneurysms, clots, and other strokes. Traumatic brain injury severity is usually described as mild, moderate, or severe. Estimates suggest that around 5% of those admitted to A&E with a head injury are severely injured. Motor impairments are common and follow damage to the brain in the motor and pre-motor areas, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. Cognitive changes or some degree of difficulty in "thinking skills" usually follow a brain injury. Language and general communication problems might follow a brain injury.
