Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) like coup, contrecoup, and coup-contrecoup injuries can occur as a result of accidents like motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and slip and falls. These injuries can range in severity and leave victims with permanent disabilities and impairments that require lifestyle adjustments, health care, and affect the overall quality of life.
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between a coup, contrecoup, and coup-contrecoup brain injury, common symptoms associated with these conditions, treatment commonly involved in these injuries, and how the attorneys at Florin|Roebig can help.
What Are Coup, Contrecoup, And Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries?
The terms coup, contrecoup, and coup-contrecoup are used to describe the point of impact and where the head injury occurs. All three are types of traumatic brain injuries and result in bruising and sometimes bleeding in the brain. These types of injuries are also considered non-penetrating/ closed head injuries injuries, meaning that an object does not actually pierce the head and injure the brain. Instead, these injuries happen as a result of blunt force trauma such as hitting your head on the steering wheel during a car accident or hitting your head while playing a sport like football.
The following are the types of each type of traumatic brain injury:
Coup Injury
Pronounced as “coo”. This brain injury is used to describe the initial site of impact. For example, if you hit your head on the windshield during a car accident, you’d likely have a “coup” brain injury on or around your forehead or the top of your head. Surface bruises, swelling, contusions, or hemorrhages can help identify the initial impact area.
Contrecoup Injury
Pronounced as “contra coo”. This injury happens when an injury occurs on the opposite side of the brain of the area where the head was hit. For example, if you hit your head on the steering wheel during an accident, you may experience an injury on the back of the brain even though you hit the front of your head. This type of injury is sometimes caused by tensile forces, which impact the axons, neurons, blood vessels, and other structures in the brain. These impacts can result in several different effects and result in a number of different symptoms depending on the location and severity of the contrecoup injury.
Coup-contrecoup Injury
Pronounced as “coo contra coo”. A coup-contrecoup injury is one that occurs both at the site of the injury as well as at the opposite site of the injury. This is when both coup and contrecoup injuries occur. These are extremely serious injuries that can lead to hematomas, brain swelling, and issues with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
No matter which type of injury occurs, they are all damaging and typically result in bruising of the brain and potentially damage to the blood vessels and brain tissue. A bruise that occurs at the site of the injury is known as a coup lesion, while a bruise at the opposite side of the skull is known as a contrecoup lesion. When the brain is jarred back and forth inside the head, which is what occurs in a contrecoup, it can result in shearing or tearing of the tissues, internal lining, and blood vessels in the brain. This can result in brain bruising, swelling, or internal bleeding.
Common Symptoms Caused By Coup, Contrecoup, Or Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries
The symptoms a person will experience as a result of a coup, contrecoup, or coup-contrecoup brain injury will vary depending on the severity of the injury and how the injury occured. Some injuries may be mild and have mild symptoms, while others may result in severe and life-long symptoms. Examples of symptoms that may arise as a result of a coup, contrecoup, or coup-contrecoup brain injury include:
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Amnesia
- Paralysis
- Weakness
- Balance and coordination issues
- Tremors
- Trouble swallowing
- Vision issues
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Trouble reading and writing
- Impaired ability to perform daily activities like eating and bathing
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
Many people who suffer more severe brain injuries will need extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, which can result in costly medical bills, the inability to work, and other damages that come as a direct result of the injury.
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Treatment For Coup, Contrecoup, Or Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries
When a person suffers a coup, contrecoup, or coup-contrecoup brain injury, they will need medical treatment immediately. This is known as the acute treatment phase and is when medical professionals assess the severity and type of damage the brain sustained. There is no one way to treat a brain injury, as each injury will require a certain approach. Some injuries will require surgery to relieve pressure in the brain or to stop bleeding, while other injuries will require a more “sit and watch” approach in which patients are given medication to reduce symptoms and are in the care of medical staff until a better understanding of the injury’s effects are known.
Some people will need to participate in brain treatment rehabilitation programs to return to the highest level of functioning possible following a traumatic brain injury. Areas focused on during a rehabilitation program include:
- Mobility
- Physical care
- Vocational training
- Socialization
- Cognition
- Communication
- Self-care activities
- Education
- Psychological counseling and testing
Why You Should Never Ignore Head Trauma
If you’ve sustained an injury to the head, it’s important to seek medical treatment immediately. There are a number of different symptoms and manifestations of brain trauma, and some of them aren’t present for days, weeks, or even months following the injury. If you do not seek help as soon as the injury occurs, you risk sustaining permanent damage that can negatively impact the rest of your life.
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Contact Florin|Roebig Brain Damage Lawyers
If you or a loved one has sustained a coup, contrecoup, or coup-contrecoup brain injury caused by another person or entity’s negligence, you’re likely eligible to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. And, it’s important to have a dedicated and knowledgeable attorney on your side who is well-versed in brain injury cases. Luckily, the personal injury attorneys at Florin|Roebig are well-equipped to help you and will walk you through every step of the process when it comes to seeking compensation for your injuries. Give us a call today for a confidential and free consultation and to see how we can help.
