In this episode, I explore the two catastrophic forms of traumatic neurological injury, brain and spinal cord. I discuss the life-changing physical consequences of traumatic neurological injury, and the equally harrowing but often invisible emotional fallouts.
I particularly highlight the often incomprehensible ways by which neurological injuries result – from riding horses and diving into pools, to boat and road traffic accidents. I illustrate the diverse features of traumatic brain injury with prominent historical cases which highlight its causes and manifestations and complications. One is the case of Phineas Gage, as described by Antonio Damasio in his classic book ‘Descarte’s Error’.
Damasio narrated the astonishing head injury Gage sustained when a tamping rod penetrated his head when he was setting charges as part of his railroad work, a case that demonstrates the impact of traumatic brain injury on personality and judgement.
I also use more recent graphic patient memoirs, such as those of Cathy Crimmins titled ‘Where is the Mango Princess’, to portray the diverse dimensions of traumatic brain injury, and that of Melanie Reid titled ‘The World I Fell Out Of’, to show the mechanism and devastation of traumatic spinal cord injury.
I also discuss the modern acute management of neurological injury, the short- and long-term complications, and the arduous rehabilitation process that follows.
Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/2RtWTQ3GNPY
Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5RjI1mLKRawaUPIGL7mUU0
Listen on Apple podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-48-impact-the-tragedy-of-traumatic-brain/id1748456248?i=1000680276334
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The Neurology Lounge 
