Neurotrauma and traumatic brain injury

Neurotraumas can have long-lasting effects, including cognitive impairment, nerve damage, leaking spinal fluid and pain. Geisinger treats both the initial injury and the effects of the injury, including comprehensive follow-up and specialty care. 

What you should know about neurotrauma and traumatic brain injury

• We treat a range of traumas to the head, neck and spinal cord, including: 
  
  • Concussions 
  • Craniofacial injury 
  • Injury to the major blood vessels supplying the brain 
  • Peripheral nerve injury 
  • Skull fracture 
  • Spinal column injury 
  • Spinal cord injury 
  • Sports-related injuries 
  • Traumatic brain injury (from minor to severe) 
• According to the Brain Trauma Foundation, concussion accounts for 90 percent of traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, it is the most underdiagnosed and underreported type of brain trauma.  

Why choose Geisinger for the care of neurotrauma and traumatic brain injury?

• Specialized trauma care: Geisinger has a Level I trauma center, four Level II trauma centers and a Level II pediatric trauma center. All provide 24/7 emergency care, with Life Flight® teams always ready to transfer patients to the appropriate trauma center. Having dedicated trauma centers means that we: 
  
  • Treat all types of head, neck and spinal cord injuries 
  • Guarantee that a highly trained neurosurgeon is available within 30 minutes of getting a trauma alert from the EMS 
  • Have a comprehensive trauma team that works together, coordinating all care, including working with subspecialists to treat the whole patient.   
• Follow-up care for head and spinal injuries: Injuries to the head, neck, face and spine are often complex. Patients may suffer from movement disorders, seizures, back and neck pain, headache and facial pain, cognitive impairment and other long-term effects. Some patients may need medication to prevent infections. Others may need surgery to alleviate pain, reconstruct nerves or increase mobility. Specialists in every area across the Geisinger system coordinate care and evaluate what’s best for each patient. We work closely with rehabilitation facilities for patients who need long-term rehab.  
• Concussion management: The best management of concussion is prevention. Whether caused by a sports injury or an accident, a concussion disturbs the brain much like a stroke. You need the right care, right away. In addition to neurotrauma specialists, our team includes neuropsychologists and neurophysiologists, who can evaluate things like memory, cognitive function and movement.