Yes, some people can recover from a traumatic brain injury, but they might face a lifetime of problems. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range in severity from a mild concussion with no loss of consciousness to a moderate TBI that causes long-term cognitive struggles to a severe TBI that may cause “bruising, torn tissues, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain.” Some of the most severe TBIs can result in death.
Recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury Depends on Several Factors
A person’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury will depend on several factors, like:
- The severity of the TBI. A mild TBI might affect a person for a few days or months, while a significant TBI can change a person’s life forever.
- How quickly the victim received medical attention. A TBI can cause bleeding in the brain, which can worsen the harm to brain tissue. Without prompt medical treatment, further damage can occur.
- The quality of the healthcare received. If the emergency medical personnel failed to diagnose or treat the brain injury correctly, the patient can experience a worse outcome than he otherwise would. For example, putting the patient into a medically induced coma can prevent additional brain damage for some patients, but if the doctor fails to do so when appropriate, the patient can suffer.
- The patient’s underlying medical issues. A patient with a significant health problem might have more complications than the average person after a TBI.
- The patient’s previous head injuries, if any. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a link between multiple traumatic brain injuries and the development of neurological problems years later.
- Complications the victim experiences during recuperation.
Every TBI is unique, so it is impossible to predict at the start how well a person will recover and return to his everyday functions.
Treatment After the Immediate Emergency Care of a Traumatic Brain Injury
According to the Mayo Clinic, the medical care a patient receives after getting stabilized in the emergency room can affect his recovery. Physicians prescribe drugs in an attempt to minimize the amount of permanent brain damage to the patient. For example:
- Anti-seizure medications can help prevent convulsions that could cause additional damage to brain tissue. Patients who sustain a moderate to severe TBI have a higher chance of suffering seizures for one week after the injury. If the patient does experience a seizure, the doctors will continue the drugs.
- After a TBI, the patient might experience increased and dangerous pressure inside the brain. Diuretics can make the patient urinate more often, dehydrating him enough to lower the pressure in the brain.
- Inducing a coma. Sometimes blood vessels in the brain cannot deliver enough oxygen and nutrients throughout the brain because the high pressure in the brain squeezes the blood vessels. The patient can sustain permanent brain damage within minutes in this situation. A comatose brain uses less oxygen, so the doctor might put the patient into a medically induced coma using drugs.
The TBI victim might also need to have surgery as part of the recovery process. Some surgical procedures following a TBI include:
- Relieving high pressure in the brain. The surgeon might need to drain built-up cerebrospinal fluid or create an opening in the skull. These methods can reduce pressure in the brain.
- Skull fracture repair. When the skull shatters or cracks, jagged pieces can break off and damage the underlying brain tissue. The doctor might need to remove the broken pieces or repair the skull.
- Bleeding and blood clots. The patient might need an operation to stop bleeding in the brain or remove blood clots (hematomas).
After surgical intervention and drug therapy, the patient might enter a phase of rehabilitation, in which he tries to re-learn how to perform the tasks of everyday living, like walking, speaking, reading, writing, and communicating.
Newsome | Melton Wants to Help You with Your Traumatic Brain Injury Case
At Newsome | Melton, we help people who have sustained a severe injury. We deliver hands-on, personal attention to our clients. We work tirelessly to get our clients fair compensation. We will handle all legal matters so that you can focus on recovery. We are prepared to:
- Gather and analyze all evidence supporting your case
- Build your case
- Represent you in court, if necessary
- Collect witness depositions and expert testimony
- Negotiate with insurers on your behalf
- Handle all communication with relevant parties
- File all paperwork within appropriate timelines
- Keep you updated at all stages of your case
There may be other ways we can help you. Call us today at (888) 808-5977 for a free consultation. There is no obligation.