Traumatic Brain Injury Pathophysiology Flashcards

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and how does it classify TBI severity?

Answer: A scoring system rating eye opening, verbal response, and motor response: Mild TBI (13-15), Moderate (9-12), Severe (3-8)

The GCS rates three components: Eye opening (1-4), Verbal response (1-5), and Motor response (1-6), totaling 3-15. Concussion (mild TBI) typically presents with GCS 13-15 with brief or no loss of consciousness.

What brain structures are most vulnerable to concussive forces?

Answer: White matter tracts (axons) connecting brain regions, the corpus callosum, and areas where brain tissue has different densities

Rotational and acceleration-deceleration forces are most damaging to white matter tracts (diffuse axonal injury), the corpus callosum (connects hemispheres), and gray-white matter junctions where density differences create shear strain.

What role does neuroinflammation play in concussion recovery?

Answer: Initial inflammation is a normal healing response, but prolonged or excessive neuroinflammation can delay recovery and worsen outcomes

After concussion, microglia activate and release inflammatory mediators. While initially protective, sustained neuroinflammation can damage healthy tissue, impair neural function, and contribute to persistent symptoms.

How does sleep disruption affect concussion recovery?

Answer: Poor sleep impairs the brain's glymphatic clearance system and metabolic recovery, potentially prolonging symptoms and delaying healing

Sleep is critical for concussion recovery: the glymphatic system clears metabolic waste during sleep, and disrupted sleep impairs cognitive recovery, mood regulation, and pain processing, creating a vicious cycle.

What is the difference between a concussion and a contusion?

Answer: A concussion is a functional brain injury without visible structural damage; a contusion is a bruise (bleeding) of brain tissue visible on imaging

Concussions involve metabolic dysfunction without visible structural damage on CT or MRI. Contusions involve actual bruising (hemorrhage) of brain tissue, visible on imaging, and are classified as more severe TBI.

What biomarkers are being researched for concussion diagnosis?

Answer: Blood-based proteins (GFAP, UCH-L1, S100B, NfL) released from damaged brain cells that may help objectively diagnose and monitor concussion

GFAP and UCH-L1 (FDA-approved for ruling out intracranial hemorrhage), S100B, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are blood-based biomarkers being studied as objective tools for concussion diagnosis and recovery monitoring.