Final answer:
Indirect traumatic brain injury refers to secondary damage caused by systemic complications and physiological changes following the initial head trauma.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient has an indirect traumatic brain injury (TBI), it typically refers to a secondary injury resulting from systemic complications rather than a direct impact to the head. This can encompass a range of issues that may complicate or worsen the primary injury, such as hypoxia, swelling, and changes in intracranial pressure. Indirect TBI is not the immediate result of a mechanical force, but rather subsequent biochemical and physiological changes that further damage brain tissue.