Those who sustain concussion, hemorrhage, significant loss of consciousness, coma, and/or skull fractures are typically diagnosed as having sustained a "moderate" to "severe" traumatic brain injury.

Injuries of this nature are generally detectable on CT, MRI, and other imaging devices. In many instances, the patient's very survival is an issue. Brain swelling, contusion and edema are likely complications. In virtually all cases, quality of life is a premier end goal.

The resulting impairments suffered by the "moderate" to "severe" traumatic brain injury victim can generally be related to the original insult, although in case after case insurance companies and their lawyers contest these relationships. Physical consequences of "moderate" to "severe" traumatic brain injury are diverse and vary from patient to patient. They may include: paralysis, sensory losses, decreased muscle control, including hemipareses, weakness, seizures, sleep disorders, speech and eating disorders, as well as memory and recall difficulties.

Individuals, while in coma, represent the “severe” end of traumatic brain injury. This is not to infer that one need be comatose to be classified as having sustained a “severe” traumatic brain injury, but comatose individuals have clearly sustained a “severe” traumatic brain injury irrespective of its potential transient nature.

Family members of comatose patients are often times left with nothing but hope, as health care professionals too, must wait as the human recovery process begins. It is no less important for family members to seek assistance from support groups during the recovery process.

A multi-disciplinary treatment and rehabilitative approach can be justified in virtually all cases of “moderate” to “severe” traumatic brain injury.