Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI has been a fact of life since the beginning of human civilizations.

Ancient records show that people recognized the effects of head injuries on the brain and tried to treat them with various methods, such as trepanation (drilling holes in the skull), herbal remedies, and prayers.

The first known surgical treatise on TBI is the Edwin Smith Papyrus, dating back to 17th century BC Egypt, which describes 48 cases of head and spine injuries and their treatments. The papyrus also contains the earliest recorded use of the term "brain" and the recognition of its functions.

– In the Middle Ages, Arab physicians such as Al-Zahrawi and Ibn Sina made significant contributions to the understanding and management of TBI. They described different types of skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, and brain contusions, and developed surgical techniques and instruments to treat them.

– In the Renaissance, anatomists such as Vesalius and Fabricius improved the knowledge of brain anatomy and pathology. In the 17th century, Thomas Willis coined the term "neurology" and described various neurological symptoms of TBI such as aphasia, amnesia, and paralysis.

– In the 19th century, advances in microscopy, histology, and physiology led to the discovery of neurons, glia, and synapses, as well as the localization of brain functions. Phineas Gage, a railroad worker who survived an iron rod penetrating his skull in 1848, became a famous case study of personality changes after TBI.

– In the 20th century, two world wars and the development of automobiles increased the incidence and awareness of TBI. Neurosurgeons such as Harvey Cushing and Walter Dandy pioneered new techniques to treat TBI, such as decompressive craniectomy, ventriculostomy, and intracranial pressure monitoring.

– The introduction of Computed Tomography (CT) scan in 1971 revolutionized the diagnosis and classification of TBI. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), developed in 1974, became the standard tool to assess the severity of TBI.

– The establishment of specialized neuro-intensive care units improved the outcomes of TBI patients. The 21st century has seen further progress in neuroimaging, biomarkers, genetics, pharmacology, rehabilitation, and prevention of TBI.