Diffuse axonal injury

[Dave Paprocki]

Diffuse axonal injury is widespread injury to axons, a part of the nerve cells, in the brain.
Nerve impulses leave nerve cells through a part of the nerve cell called the axon. In diffuse axonal injury, axons throughout the brain are damaged.
The usual causes of diffuse axonal injury include falls and motor vehicle crashes. Diffuse axonal injury can occur in the shaken baby syndrome, in which violent shaking or throwing of a baby causes brain injury. As a result of diffuse axonal injury, brain cells may die, causing brain swelling, increasing pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure). Increased pressure may compound the injury by decreasing the blood supply to the brain.
Diffuse axonal injury typically causes loss of consciousness that lasts for more than 6 hours. Sometimes the person has other symptoms of brain damage. Increased pressure within the skull may cause coma.
Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is usually done to detect diffuse axonal injury.
Treatment of diffuse axonal injury is similar to treatment of other head injuries. For example, doctors make sure that breathing and blood pressure are adequate and take steps to keep pressure within the skull from increasing too much.
Surgery is not helpful.