Which type of traumatic brain injury is characterized by a brief loss of consciousness?

The type of traumatic brain injury characterized by a brief loss of consciousness is a concussion. This injury typically results from a direct blow to the head or a jolt to the body that causes the brain to move within the skull. Although other types of brain injuries may also involve varying degrees of consciousness impairment, concussions specifically involve transient neurological dysfunction which can manifest as impairment of consciousness, memory, or cognitive capabilities, usually for a short duration.

A concussion’s defining feature is the often momentary loss of awareness or consciousness following the injury, making it a common concern in contact sports and other physical activities. Other symptoms may include confusion, dizziness, headache, and nausea.

In contrast, contusions involve bruising of the brain tissue itself and can result in more prolonged symptoms and consciousness issues; hematomas refer to bleeding outside of blood vessels that can lead to increased intracranial pressure and more severe outcomes; and skull fractures involve a break in the skull bone but do not necessarily imply loss of consciousness unless complex injuries occur alongside.