Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury can follow road traffic accidents, falls, sports injuries, workplace incidents or violence. Damage may occur at the time of impact and can worsen later because of bleeding, swelling, reduced blood flow, spinal instability or pressure on the brain or spinal cord. Rapid assessment is therefore essential. Apollo Adlux Hospital, Angamaly, provides emergency evaluation for adult and paediatric neurotrauma. Care may involve emergency medicine, neurosurgery, critical care, radiology, orthopaedics, anaesthesia and rehabilitation. The priorities are to stabilise the patient, identify injuries quickly, prevent secondary damage and preserve neurological function.

Emergency warning signs:After a head injury, emergency assessment is needed for loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, unusual drowsiness, seizure, weakness, slurred speech, unequal pupils, blood or clear fluid from the nose or ear, or a significant injury in a person taking blood-thinning medicine.

Possible spinal cord injury signs include severe neck or back pain, limb weakness or numbness, loss of movement, breathing difficulty, loss of bladder or bowel control, or an abnormal neck or spine position after trauma. Do not move a severely injured person unnecessarily; call emergency services and support the head and neck until trained help arrives.

Neurosurgical treatment

Surgery may be required to remove a blood clot, stop bleeding, repair a skull injury, relieve dangerous pressure or manage cerebrospinal fluid. In selected severe cases, decompressive craniectomy creates space for a swollen brain. Spinal procedures may decompress the spinal cord or nerves and stabilise fractures using implants when necessary.

The operation and timing depend on imaging, neurological findings, overall injuries and the patient's stability. Some injuries are treated without surgery but still require close observation because symptoms can change.

Rehabilitation after neurotrauma

Recovery may continue for months. Rehabilitation can include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, bladder and bowel care, pain management, psychological support and family training. Follow-up addresses seizures, spasticity, weakness, memory or behaviour changes, return to work or school, and prevention of secondary complications.