Traumatic brain injuries can develop when the head gets slammed into an object. The coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain bounces back and forth inside the skull. The coup injury happens when the head stops abruptly because of an impact and the brain then crashes into the skull. The contrecoup injury occurs when the brain then bounces inside the skull and impacts the opposite side of the skull.
The coup-contrecoup injury can cause additional issues. Brain bleeding and swelling can develop from the pressure of the impacts of the brain against the skulls. The fluids that feed and nourish the brain can also be disrupted. Even fragments of the skull can dislodge from the impacts and cause additional problems.
The most common causes of the coup-contrecoup injury are car accidents, an assault, shaken baby syndrome, falls and sports injuries. Patients that are dealing with a coup-contrecoup injury may want to contact a Vancouver lawyer to see if restoration might be an action worth pursuing.
Symptoms of Coup-Contrecoup Injury
The most common symptom of the coup-contrecoup injury comes in the form of a contusion at the point of initial impact. The additional symptoms will depend largely on the exact location of the injury and which parts of the brain are affected.
- Difficulties speak or understanding language
- Decision making difficulties
- Memory loss
- Difficulties with balance and coordination
- Muscle weakness or even paralysis
There are other symptoms that should be watched for after a head trauma has occurred. Dilated pupils or unequal pupils, dizziness, or vomiting can all be reasons to see a doctor immediately after an injury to the head.
Diagnosis of Coup-Contrecoup Injury
Talking to the patient can be the best way to diagnosis a potential coup-contrecoup injury. Understanding how the injury occurred can tell the medical professional a lot. There are times when the patient will not be able to talk or the interview does not positively identify the injury. These are the times when imaging tests can reveal the exact location and extent of the initial brain injury and any injuries that resulted from that initial trauma.
Diagnosing a coup-contrecoup injury should never be left to the amateur. Any time head trauma occurs the safest plan of action is to seek medical evaluation immediately. Early diagnosis can help determine the best treatment methods and reduce the risks of future complications.
Treatment of Coup-Contrecoup Injury
The severity of the head trauma and the resulting coup-contrecoup injury will drive the recovery. The more damage the brain suffers as a result of the injury then the longer the longer the required process.
Damage caused by a coup-contrecoup injury may even be irreversible. The treatments that are used are designed to decrease the risk of further damage. The main focus is the decrease in additional brain swelling and also reducing the risk of bleeding into the brain. Medications are the first line of treatment and sometimes the conditions will require neurosurgery.
