A coup-contrecoup brain injury occurs when the brain suffers damage on two opposite sides by shifting back and forth within the skull. The initial impact site is the coup, and the secondary impact site on the opposite side of the brain is the contrecoup.
Coup-contrecoup injuries are common in situations where a person experiences a sudden, forceful impact to the head, causing the head and brain to whip back and forth or from side to side. These traumatic brain injuries can cause life-threatening bleeding and swelling within the brain.
What Can Cause a Coup-Contrecoup Injury?
Strong impacts and violent motions typically cause head trauma resulting in coup-contrecoup traumatic brain injuries. Some of the most common sources of coup-contrecoup brain injuries include:
- Car accidents – Sudden stops or changes in motion during a crash can cause the head to jolt forward, backward, or to the side, leading to a coup-contrecoup injury that damages brain tissue on both sides of the head. Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries and can also involve a coup-contrecoup injury.
- Falls – Slips, trips, and falls from height can cause coup-contrecoup injuries when the head strikes the ground or another surface.
- Sports injuries – Athletes who play high-contact sports like football, rugby, and hockey are at increased risk of experiencing a coup-contrecoup injury due to the physical impacts common in these sports. However, other athletes, such as baseball, lacrosse, and soccer players, can also suffer these injuries, especially if struck in the head by the ball.
- Physical assault – Violent assaults, including domestic violence, can result in a coup-contrecoup injury when it involves blunt force trauma.
What Are the Symptoms of a Coup-Contrecoup Injury?
Because it is a closed-head injury, a coup-contrecoup injury typically does not show a visible wound. Coup-contrecoup brain injury symptoms can vary widely depending on the severity of the impact. Some common symptoms include:
- Headaches – Persistent or worsening headaches may develop over time due to brain swelling or bleeding.
- Dizziness and confusion – Many individuals who suffer brain injuries report feeling dizzy and disoriented or being unable to concentrate.
- Nausea and vomiting – These are some of the most common symptoms of a brain injury.
- Memory loss – In some cases, brain injury victims may struggle to remember the events surrounding their injury.
- Loss of consciousness – Brain injury victims may lose consciousness immediately after the impact or later as the brain swells.
More severe brain injuries can result in other serious symptoms, such as seizures, impaired motor function, and reduced cognitive ability. For this reason, receiving immediate medical care is essential, as it can diagnose a coup-contrecoup injury early and allow for timely treatment.
Treatment Options and Lasting Impacts of Coup-Contrecoup Injuries
Coup-contrecoup treatment usually starts with medical imaging, such as CT or MRI scans, to assess the extent of the damage. Further treatment may involve:
- Rest and monitoring – In less severe cases, your doctor may recommend you rest and monitor your symptoms.
- Surgery – In more severe cases, especially those involving significant swelling or bleeding, surgery may be necessary.
- Rehabilitation – Brain injuries often require long-term physical and cognitive therapy.
Get Help from Our Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury Lawyers
If you suffered a coup-contrecoup brain injury in North Alabama, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., to set up a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney at our law firm. We can review your case, determine if someone else is to blame for your head injury, and, if so, demand they compensate you fairly.
