CHSU Discovery

Abstract

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain injury caused by an external force that can

affect brain function immediately or over time.1 The impacts of TBIs are commonly

discussed amongst male veterans. However, Babakhanyan et al reported, there is a

increase in women involved in combat operations, consisting of 18.6% of officers and

16.8% of enlisted personnel in the United States military.2 We report a unique case in

a female veteran patient with symptoms of migraine, dizziness, tinnitus, facial

sensitivity, and deficiency in memory, where she had multiple incidences of TBI

during military training.

We will focus on understanding and recognizing the effects of non-penetrating TBIs, a

closed head injury or blunt TBI that jostles the brain within the skull.

Understanding the effects of TBI in females is imperative to addressing patient

centered care and furthering research in symptoms and management of female

veteran care.

The aim of our study is to better understand the effects of TBIs in females due to the

lack of research amongst female veterans and the unique biological differences seen

in females.