title: Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury remains a challenging and complicated disease process to care for, despite the advance of technology used to monitor and guide treatment. Currently, the mainstay of treatment is aimed at limiting secondary brain injury, with the help of multiple specialties in a critical care setting. Prognosis after TBI is often even more challenging than the treatment itself, although there are various exam and imaging findings that are associated with poor outcome. These findings are important because they can be used to guide families and loved ones when making decisions about goals of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case report, we demonstrate the unanticipated recovery of a 28-year-old male patient who presented with a severe traumatic brain injury after being in a motorcycle accident without wearing a helmet. He presented with several exam and imaging findings that are statistically associated with increased mortality and morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The care of severe traumatic brain injuries is challenging and dynamic. This case highlights the unexpected recovery of a patient and serves as a reminder that there is variability among patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Clinton G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurocritical Care, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurocritical Care, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bannister
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dzandu
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangram
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurocritical Care, HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zach
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D020206:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014696:Ventriculostomy