Polytraumatic TBI: Perspectives from military medicine

摘要

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been described as "the beginning of an ongoing, perhaps lifelong process." Even when classified as mild, TBI can pose significant long-term challenges to health, well-being, and functionality. TBI also increases the risk for psychiatric disturbance such as depression and stress-related disorder. The inherent complexity of TBI is complicated further in the context of multiple injuries (polytrauma) to other body structures, organs, and systems including vision, hearing, and mental health. Although unfortunately common in combat and blast exposure (see Figure 1, page 309), polytraumatic scenarios are by no means limited to the military environment.