Do brain injuries only occur with a loss of consciousness?
No. Serious impairments may result from an injury in which the person remains responsive and lucid. However, most brain injuries are characterized by some period of altered consciousness (e.g., amnesia, coma), and this state may last for a matter of minutes, hours or indefinitely. Loss of consciousness usually accompanies a closed head injury, whereas an open head injury may not cause any loss of consciousness. Resulting impairments tend to be more severe the longer the person is unconscious.
