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Did You Suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Georgia Brain Injury Law Firm (912) 264-6465

Regardless of the severity of the injury or whether medical attention is sought immediately or somewhat after the fact, imaging tests are critical to help determine a specific diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.

Skull and neck X-rays are common to check for fractures and spinal instability. Various other scans help determine changes to both the structure and the function of the brain. Medical procedures that look at the structure of the brain are:

  • CAT scan: The CAT scan uses X-rays to “slice” the brain radio-graphically into slabs. This method is particularly good at detecting fresh blood in and around the brain.
  • MRI: Like the CAT scan, the MRI slices the brain into sections, but uses magnetic fields to do so. Though it is inferior to the CAT scan in its ability to detect fresh blood, the MRI is far better at locating old hemorrhaged blood – or hemosiderin. It also provides more detail than the CAT scan, showing brain damage as small as 1-2mm in size.
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): This type of MRI uses special software to view parts of the brain a normal MRI cannot. This new technology allows for visualization of natural damage to the white matter. It is a very impressive technology and will be impressive to jurors and others involved in TBI litigation.
  • MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography): This technology allows doctors to view the carotid and vertebral arterial systems in the neck and brain without having to inject contrast dye into the patient’s bloodstream.

There are several diagnostic imaging technologies available that provide information about damage to the brain’s function. These include:

  • Electroencephalogram (EEG): Wires attached to the patient’s scalp act like antenna to record the brain’s electrical activity. Changes from the normal can provide insight into brain damage.
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: The brain uses glucose for energy. By labeling a glucose molecule with a radioactive “tag,” then inhaling radioactive glucose and placing the patient’s head under a large Geiger counter, doctors can identify abnormal areas of the brain that are underutilizing glucose.
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Scan: SPECT scanning is similar to PET scanning in that a radioactive chemical is administered intravenously to the patient, but the radioactive chemical remains in the bloodstream and does not enter the brain. As a result, the SPECT scan maps the brain’s vascular supply. Because damaged brain tissue normally shuts down its own blood supply, focal vascular defects on a SPECT scan are circumstantial evidence of brain damage.
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS): This new tool, used in conjunction with MRI, detects the intra-cellular relationship of brain metabolites. While MRS is in its early stages, it holds great promise in the “objectification” of brain injury.
  • Evoked Potentials: Evoked studies take advantage of the fact that each time a sensory system of the body – vision, hearing, touch – is stimulated, an electrical signal is generated in the brain. These electrical signals can be detected with electrical wires on the scalp, showing any deficits that could indicate brain damage.
  • Lumbar Puncture: A lumbar puncture – also known as a spinal tap – is used to analyze cerebrospinal fluid. Analysis of the fluid can help tell doctors, for example, if there is any bleeding in the brain and spinal cord areas.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS, PROGNOSIS, AND LONG TERM EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?

Though many TBI victims do not require hospitalization, according to CDC data, roughly half of patients with severe TBI will need surgery.

And the treatment does not end in the hospital. Moderately to severely injured patients must undergo individually tailored rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physical medicine, psychology/psychiatry and social support. Patients suffering from moderate to severe brain injury can struggle long-term with multiple disabilities, including, but not limited to:

  • Cognitive deficits, such as confusion, impulsiveness, memory loss and difficulty maintaining concentration;
  • Speech/language deficits, including difficulty understanding the spoken work, difficulty speaking, slurred speech and difficulty reading and/or writing;
  • Difficulties with interpretation of sensory input, such as touch, temperature or limb position;
  • Partial or total vision loss, blurred vision or other vision-related problems;
  • Ringing in the ears, hearing loss or increased sensitivity to sounds;
  • Loss or diminished sense of smell or taste;
  • Chronic pain;
  • Sleep disorders;
  • Appetite changes;
  • Depression;
  • Aggression; and
  • Dependent behaviors.

TBI can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for such conditions as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age. Very severe TBI can leave the patient in a coma or vegetative state, requiring years of nursing home care.

Even a mild TBI – classified as loss of consciousness or confusion/disorientation lasting less than 30 minutes – can have long-standing aftereffects. While MRI and CAT scans are often normal, the patient may experience headache, difficulty thinking, memory problems, attention deficits, mood swings and frustration, among other symptoms, for weeks or even months after the injury.

Repeated mild TBI occurring over months or years can cause cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits. If repeated over a short period of time (hours, days or weeks), they can be catastrophic, even fatal.  Call the Strom Law Firm today to see if we can help you.  (912) 264-6465