When most people think of a brain injury, they picture an accident involving blunt force trauma to the brain. There are, however, types of brain injuries that do not involve blunt force trauma. These types of injuries are called “non-traumatic brain injuries,” and they may have effects on the brain that are just as damaging as traditional TBI. Get the facts on non-traumatic brain injury and what to do if you or someone you love has suffered one.

Where non-traumatic brain injury occurs, the Scarlett Law Group stands ready to assist you in your time of need. If you or someone you know has been injured or suffered Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI, you need the assistance of the Scarlett Law Group. Call (415) 352-6264 today to speak with a California Personal Injury Attorney.

The different types of non-traumatic brain injuries include:

• Meningitis: Meningitis (both bacterial and viral) is an inflammation of the meninges which cover the brain. Usually, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is contaminated or “seeded” through an infectious process. Given that CSF bathes the brain and the meninges, increased intracranial pressure results from the inflammation. Inflammation can also occur as a result of toxic exposure, such as where myelogram dye is injected into the CSF.
• Hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus generally refers to an accumulation of liquid on the brain. It can occur in cases of meningitis where the patient’s system for circulating CSF is impaired. The blockage can also occur from a number of other events including bleeding, swelling, tumor or congenital deformation. Increased intracranial pressure results from the blocked fluid.
• Encephalitis: An inflammation of brain substances called encephalitis. Generally, the cause of the inflammation is an infectious process, but it can also be caused by allergy.
• Subdural hematoma: Subdural hematoma refers to blood clots or bleeding that develops between the brain and the dura matter that covers the brain. Subdural hematomas can be treated in a number of different ways depending on the severity of the bleed. For example, where the bleed is small in size, or has stopped, it is sometimes possible to treat therapeutically with drugs as opposed to more invasive methods of treatment, which could include craniotomy with evacuation.
• Epidural hematoma: These hematomas are formed when the brains outer covering or dura matter is stripped away from the skull by blood from lacerated blood vessels. These “bleeds” generally occur within within minutes after the injury although some may develop in the first day and even enlarge over time. We’re these bleeds are posterior end near the brain stem they are particularly dangerous as the patient may be conscious until the end stage of development. Epidural hematomas are thought to be more dangerous than subdural hematomas, although this is of course a generality.
• Aneurysm: Where due to congenital anomaly (in most instances) or trauma, a blood vessel wall is caused to balloon outward and aneurysm is the result. Most aneurysms are extremely dangerous as the individual is asymptomatic until the aneurysm ruptures. Size of the aneurysm can vary from the very small to the large. Large aneurysms may exert pressure on surrounding areas of the brain.