What is the difference between light, medium and severe TBIs?

The severity of the injury falls in one of three categories:

- minor;

- moderate; and

- severe.

The severity of the injury depends mainly on the violence of the blow to the head received in the accident.

The severity of the injury is not the only predictor of a TBI’s consequences.

Severity is measured in three ways:

1) With the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) [1]

Three tests are used to assess the severity of head injuries:

- best eye response;

- best ability to move their limbs; and

- best verbal response.

The more severe the injury, the lower the score on the 15-point scale. The minimum possible score is 3 points.

2) According to an assessment of the duration of loss of consciousness

An injury is minor when consciousness is lost for less than 20 minutes.

The trauma is considered severe if loss of consciousness lasts more than a day.

3) According to an evaluation of post-traumatic amnesia (memory loss after the accident).

An injury is minor when the amnesia lasts for no more than an hour.

The trauma is considered severe when the post-traumatic amnesia lasts longer than 24 hours.