Bifrontal Contusion

[cy73]

My mother (~60 year old) fall down and knocked on the back of her head and sustain bifrontal contusion.  CT scan shows several blood clot and gliosis(scar formation).  Can they heal over time?

She has been in hospital for over 1 week.  Last 2 days, her sodium level drop to 109 (forgot the scale).  What can be done?

[maheshraman]

My father (63 year old) fall down on his back and got traumetic brain injury and (bifrontal haemorrphagic contusions), he was admitted in the hospital for 23 days now he is in home. He is not sleeping day and night and continously walking ,speaking irrelevently and memory loss. is it curable ? when he will be normal.

[DrRakeshMD]

Hi Dear

Its good that the clots are minor and surgery is not required. It is a possibility that low sodium levels are accentuating her disorientation and confusion, and they might improve once the levels are normalised.

Rehabilitation during the hospital stay after stroke generally refers to all the measures taken to prevent a recurrent stroke and complications (in the hospital) while ensuring proper management of general health functions, mobilizing the patient, encouraging resumption of self-care activities, and providing emotional support to the patient and family.

There might always be some residual impairment (neurological deficit) after the stroke. Hence, the focus of care is assessment and recovery of any residual physical and cognitive deficits, and also compensation for any residual impairment. There are certain rahabilitation facilities which help in the impairments besides providing emotional and psychological support and counselling for the patient and the caregivers.

God bless..

[cy73]

Thank you for your reply.

At the time of the injury, it was very painful at the back of the head.  However, there was no vomiting, unconsciousness but not sure of headache.

Right now, her condition is improving. Sodium level incread to 134 but drop back to 130 this morning.  Sometimes, she still mistaken the identity of some of the people.  Until now, she still not recognising she is in hospital.

Doctor said the blood clots are small and surgery is not needed.  What kind of rehabilitation is needed or can be done?

Again, Thanks.

[DrRakeshMD]

Hi Dear

Sorry to hear about all this.

Did your mother experience vomiting, headache, unconsciousness at the time of injury? How is she doing now?

The sodium level dropping to 109 mEq/L (normal level 135-155 meq/L) is a very serious condition. I believe she would be receiving adequate treatment in the hospital. The improvement in her condition would depend upon the severity and positioning (which part of the brain) of the clots in her bain. Her symptoms and residual deficit would also depend upon the positioning of the clots. The hemorrhagic clots (clots due to bleeding in the brain) generally cause pressure symptoms in the area of the brain they are located in. Treatment includes life-saving measures, relieving symptoms, repairing the cause of the bleeding, preventing complications, and starting rehabilitation as soon as possible. Complete/Partial Recovery happens only over time.

God bless..