Study Findings May Lead to Improved Outcomes for Brain Injury Patients

 The findings of a recent study on traumatic brain injury suggest more effective methods that may change the way patients are treated. According to a report in good4utah.com, the six-year study featured 2,100 patients and involved 10 hospitals. Now, doctors and therapists have hard evidence backing up several new ways to improve patient outcomes.
The study has shown that patients benefit from getting off rehab quickly. Researchers say nutrition, especially protein, plays an important role in healing. Tube-feeding, if necessary, is also recommended by the study. One aspect of the study concerned the factor termed “patient effort.” Researchers found that effort from patients improved over the course of therapy and as they got better, their effort consistently improved. These types of studies definitely give traumatic injury patients new hope that they can get better and heal with proper care and treatment.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow or some other type of trauma to the head or body. The nature and extent of the damage is usually determined by several factors including the type of the event or incident and the force of the impact. When a traumatic brain injury occurs, brain cells can become severely and irreparably damaged. Bleeding in and around the brain, swelling and blood clots can disrupt the oxygen supply to the brain and lead to lasting impairment.
Some of the common events that cause traumatic brain injuries include:
• Falls: This is the most common cause of brain injury. Examples include slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall accidents, falling from ladders or scaffolds and falling down steps.
• Car accidents: Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians are a common cause of traumatic brain injury.
• Acts of violence: About 20 percent of traumatic brain injuries are caused by acts of violence such as gunshot wounds or physical assaults.
• Sports injuries: Traumatic brain injuries may be caused by a number of contact sports. Concussions are the most common injuries suffered during sporting activities.
• Explosions: These are also a common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Workers are in many cases the victims of such injuries.
Complications after a Brain Injury
There are a number of issues – physical, mental and behavioral – that can surface after a traumatic brain injury. Moderate to severe brain injuries can result in altered states of consciousness such as a coma, vegetative state, or minimally conscious state. When there is no measurable activity in the brain and the brain stem, an individual is declared “brain dead.” Some people with traumatic brain injury will suffer seizures. In other cases, cerebrospinal fluid may build up in the spaces in the brain causing increased pressure and swelling. Skull fractures or penetrating wounds can tear the layers of protective tissues that surround the brain. This may cause bacterial infections that may spread to the rest of the central nervous system if left untreated.
Blood vessel damage may lead to strokes or blood clots. Many traumatic brain injury victims also suffer cognitive and behavioral issues such as loss of memory, lack of judgment, inability to focus, communication problems, trouble with social interaction and emotional issues such as depression, anxiety and mood swings. Living with a brain injury can be stressful not only for patients, but also for their families.
Compensation for Injured Victims
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income and benefits, loss of earning capacity, permanent injuries, disabilities, cost of rehabilitation, past and future pain and suffering, etc. The cost of living with a brain injury can add up to millions of dollars depending on the extent of the individual’s injury and disability. Many brain injury victims are unable to make a full recovery because they suffer irreversible brain damage. This means that they are never able to return to the life they lived prior to the injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury as the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. For over 43 years our skilled personal injury lawyers have been helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. One of our clients received a verdict of $43,940,000 in a brain injury case.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: good4utah.com