What is diffuse axonal injury of the brain?
What is diffuse axonal injury of the brain?
Diffuse axonal injury is the shearing (tearing) of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers (axons) that happens when the brain is injured as it shifts and rotates inside the bony skull. DAI usually causes coma and injury to many different parts of the brain.
What are axonal bulbs?
When this swelling becomes large enough, it can tear the axon at the site of the cytoskeleton break, causing it to draw back toward the cell body and form a bulb. This bulb is called a “retraction ball”, the histological hallmark of diffuse axonal injury.
What is a diffused brain?
Diffuse brain injuries form a continuum of progressively severe brain damage caused by increasing amounts of acceleration-deceleration injury to the brain. In its purest form, diffuse brain injury is the most common type of head injury.
Can you recover from diffuse axonal brain injury?
In mild to moderate forms of diffuse axonal injury, recovery is possible, with the mildest forms of diffuse axonal injury often resulting in few if any long-term issues. About 90% of survivors with severe diffuse axonal injury remain unconscious. The 10% that regain consciousness are often severely impaired.
Is diffuse axonal injury serious?
DAI is a serious but common type of traumatic brain injury. It can be fatal, but it is also possible to regain consciousness after a DAI. For those who recover, intensive rehabilitation will be needed.
What is a Grade 3 axonal brain injury?
Grade 2: A moderate diffuse axonal injury with gross focal lesions in the corpus callosum. Grade 3: A severe diffuse axonal injury with finding as Grade 2 and additional focal lesions in the brainstem.
What is the treatment for diffuse axonal injury?
The immediate course of action needed in the case of a DAI is to reduce any swelling inside of the brain, as this can cause further damage. In select cases, a course of steroids will be given to reduce the swelling. There is no surgery available to people who have sustained a DAI.
What is a diffuse axonal injury?
Diffuse axonal injury. Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a brain injury in which extensive lesions in white matter tracts occur over a widespread area. DAI is one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury, and is a major cause of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after severe head trauma.
What is the prognosis for diffuse axonal brain injury?
Sadly, based on research over 90% of patients with severe diffuse axonal brain injury never regain consciousness. For those who are lucky to wake up remain in a significantly impaired state. Diffuse axonal brain injury can vary from mild such as concussion to moderate and severe.
What are the goals of physical therapy for diffuse axonal injury recovery?
One of the main goals of physical therapy during diffuse axonal injury recovery is to regain control over your movements. After a DAI, the connection between the brain, nerves, and muscles is disrupted.
What happens to the brain when axons are damaged?
The tearing of the axons disrupts the transmission of messages between neurons, leading to a loss of function. Additionally, axonal shearing causes swelling in the brain, which increases pressure in the skull. Because most diffuse axonal injuries result in microscopic tears, damage can be difficult to detect with imaging.