Traumatic injuries to the brain, also called intracranial injury, or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage.

Brain injuries are a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. The health care provider will perform a physical exam, including a neurological exam. This will help identify the exact location of the injury, if it is not already known.

Spinal cord trauma can be caused by many different types of injuries to the spine. They can result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries (particularly diving into shallow water), industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, assault, and others. Even a minor injury can cause spinal cord trauma if the spine is weakened (such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis) or if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process.