Very often, severe brain damage will be obvious in a patient that has been badly injured in a motor vehicle accident or other catastrophe. Other times, it will not be obvious, such as when an elderly person who is on blood thinners hits his head and has bad bleeding inside the skull. Most of the time, however, more severe accidents result in more severe damage.

A person in a car accident, or a person injured and unconscious usually enters the emergency department by ambulance. His head and neck will be immobilized on a back board in case of spinal fracture. He will be stabilized as much as possible, depending on other injuries. After x-rays have revealed no neck fracture, and other injuries are stable or not needing immediate treatment, the brain injury will be evaluated. X-rays might also be taken to look for skull fractures.

In another scenario, a person with a gunshot wound will quickly be assessed to see how many wounds or other injuries exist. A gunshot wound to the head that is not immediately fatal will probably need surgery.

A person with moderate TBI might have an initial Glasgow Coma Scale rating of 8 to 13. Other abnormalities can be visible to the examiner. There could be a skull fracture, which is more easily detected if it is depressed. A skull fracture at the base of the skull is more dangerous, and can cause blood to be visible behind the eardrum, or cerebrospinal fluid to leak from the ears or nose. Unequal pupils, the dark parts in the center of the eye, are a very bad sign. This assessment will be going on quickly along with everything else.

The patient with a moderate to severe TBI needs a CAT scan which can give a fairly good picture of the brain. Other scans, like MRI, are too slow and not readily available. A CAT scan will show hematomas whether they are epidural, subdural, or in the brain tissue. It will show brain contusion and swelling, and any other structural damage. It will not show diffuse axonal injury.

Many of these conditions need to be treated surgically, including epidural and subdural hematomas, depressed skull fractures and penetrating wounds such as gunshots.

The issue of increased pressure inside the brain must be addressed. Intracranial pressure will be monitored. If it is too high, it can be lowered somewhat with medications. A shunt can be placed to remove fluid in the brain. Sometimes a piece of skull must be removed to release the pressure.

There are many protocols, including experimental treatments, used to treat patients with severe brain injuries to try and prevent secondary brain injury as well as limit as much damage as possible. These include inducing an artificial coma with sedatives, cooling the whole body, and various medications. Patients are often given medication to prevent seizures, and antibiotics if any of their injuries allow communication between the brain and the outside. Patients with severe injuries, if they survive, will be left with many problems. The extent of these problems will not be clear until much later.

Brain Injury Compensation Claim Solicitors

We are qualified lawyers specialising in compensation claims for personal injury resulting from UK accidents caused by the negligence of a third party. We deal with physical injuries of the utmost severity including catastrophic damage to the spinal cord and brain and consequential psychological damage. If you would like to speak to a brain injury compensation claims solicitor without any obligation whatsoever just use the contact form or call the helpline. Our advice is free and if you decide to use our services we operate a totally risk free no win no fee scheme. Compensation is paid in full with no deductions and win or lose there is no charge.

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