Each year in the United States, more than 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury – that’s one every 18 seconds.
What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused when an external physical force (i.e., bump, blow, jolt to the head or penetrating head injury) causes damage to the brain. A TBI can range from mild to severe, and can affect:
• Thinking and problem solving
• Body movement and speech
• Control of behavior, emotions, and reactions
National TBI Estimates
Of the estimated 1.7 million Americans who sustain a TBI annually:
• 52,000 die
• 275,000 are hospitalized
• 1.365 million (nearly 80%) are treated in an emergency department and released
TBI by Age
Children aged 0 to 4 years, adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a TBI.
TBI by Gender
In every age group, TBI rates are higher for males than for females.
What Are the Leading Causes of TBI?
Falls – 35.2%
Motor Vehicle/Traffic Crashes – 17.3%
Struck By/Against Events – 16.5%
Assault – 10%
Traumatic brain injury can be devastating, changing entire lives in a matter of seconds. In an upcoming blog, we’ll share ways you can prevent brain injury.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Brain Injury Association of Arizona
