Mild traumatic brain injury update

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent condition throughout the civilian and military populations. Although TBI can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, most TBIs are considered mild. Understanding the pathophysiologic mechanism(s) of mild TBI through basic science and clinical cohort studies is an area of active research. While it is well understood that most people recover from a mild TBI with minimal treatment, some patients experience long-term consequences that require rehabilitation and specialized care. Common characteristics of brain injury include loss of consciousness (LOC), posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), and postconcussion syndrome (PCS). The development of LOC, PTA, and PCS greatly depends on the nature of the injury, and the degrees to which they develop are not necessarily consistent with symptom presentation. In recent years, sports concussions have become an area of increased research and public interest in the civilian population; similarly, blast TBI has gained attention in the military. Depending on the nature of the injury, different outcomes may result in the two populations. Consequently, treatments for mild TBI are rather diverse, and early intervention is the key to maximizing outcomes following a TBI. These topics and more will be discussed throughout this article.