What condition is a patient with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) most likely to develop?

A patient with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is most likely to develop diabetes insipidus due to the impact of the injury on the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland, which are critical in the regulation of water balance in the body. TBI can disrupt the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which normally helps the body retain water.

When ADH levels are insufficient, the kidneys excrete large volumes of dilute urine, leading to symptoms of dehydration and an increased thirst response. This condition can arise shortly after the injury or may develop later, depending on the extent of the brain damage and the areas affected.

The other conditions, while they can occur in various medical scenarios, are not as directly related to the physiological changes following a TBI. For instance, cerebral edema, although a common complication of TBI, refers to the swelling of brain tissue due to injury rather than a systemic condition like diabetes insipidus. Similarly, diabetes mellitus and hypoglycemia are more related to metabolic processes and glucose regulation rather than directly resulting from a traumatic brain injury.