Traumatic Brain Injury – what Schumi is going through

Updated 30 December 2013 Traumatic Brain Injury - what Schumi is going through Head injury or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head causes damage to the brain. The damage can be focal, confined to one area of the brain. Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was in a 'critical' condition on Monday 30 December 2013 after suffering head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps resort of Meribel.

Doctors operated on the 44-year-old German for the second time during the night, according to the websites of German daily Bild. Bild said doctors had drilled holes in his skull to reduce internal pressure, without citing its sources.

The retired motor racing star fell while skiing off-piste on Sunday morning. "He suffered head trauma with coma that needed prompt neurosurgical treatment ...He remains in a critical condition," Schumacher's agent Sabine Kehm said in a statement.

Chief anesthesiologist professor Jean-Francois Payen said: "It was an impact on his right side with high speed. He could not answer questions after the accident."

"We can say he is fighting for his life. We judge him to be in a very serious situation. We cannot tell what the outcome will be yet. We are working hour-by-hour but it's too early to say what is going to happen and to have a prognosis.

Schumacher sustained an injury to the right side of his head

On arrival he was in a coma and had intracranial pressure

A brain scan showed some intracranial haematoma (bleeding) and some cerebral contusions (bruising) and edema (fluid collection)

Surgeons operated to try to eliminate the haematoma

They were able to eliminate the haematoma but also found bilateral lesions (abnormalities)

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Traumatic Brain Injury - what Schumi is going through