Diagnostic Tests to Confirm a Locked-In Syndrome Diagnosis
Doctors can use several different tests to diagnose locked-in syndrome and understand the damage to the brain. This includes:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Doctors use both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography to locate the damage to the brain stem, identify blood clots or blockages, and rule out damage to other parts of the brain.
Electroencephalogram
An electroencephalogram (EEG) allows doctors to visualize brain activity by picking up the brain’s electrical currents. This should show that the patient has normal brain activity with no cognitive loss if they have locked-in syndrome.
Evoked Potentials Testing
Evoked potentials testing is a way doctors use an EEG test to check the patient’s response to stimulation. This allows them to identify awareness in patients with complete locked-in syndrome. They can also explore pain and sensation in patients with locked-in syndrome using this type of testing.
Electromyography
In conjunction with a nerve conduction study, electromyography may allow a doctor to prove paralysis is a result of a brain injury instead of injury to the nervous system or individual muscles.
Doctors Will Need to Discover the Cause of Locked-In Syndrome
Locked-in syndrome occurs because of damage to a part of the brain stem called the pons. Most commonly, this happens because of a stroke or hemorrhage, which cause a blockage of blood flow or uncontrolled bleeding, respectively.
Other possible causes of locked-in syndrome include:
- A blood clot
- Traumatic brain injury
- Brain infection
- A tumor affecting the pons
- Myelinolysis or other conditions affecting the nerve cells
- Inflammation of the nerves, sometimes called polymyositis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron disorders
If there is no sign of an external head injury that could indicate a traumatic brain injury from an accident, doctors will generally conduct a physical exam and watch for signs of a stroke or brain hemorrhage. Then, they will use a CT scan or an MRI to take a look at what is going on inside the person’s brain. These tests allow them to identify blockages, bleeding, or a tumor. Other potential causes require additional testing to diagnose.
Talk To Our Legal Team Today
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Observing Patients with Locked-In Syndrome
In most cases, people with locked-in syndrome cannot speak or make purposeful movements of any part of their body except their eyes and eyelids. Many patients retain the ability to blink and make vertical eye movements, but cannot chew, swallow, or breathe on their own. They suffer from near-global paralysis. Their cognitive function and sleep-wake cycle remain intact.
These people are aware of their environment and can comprehend what is happening around them. They can hear and see in most cases. While they can move their eyes in many cases, this may not be enough to signal to caregivers that they have full cognitive function. Diagnosis is often delayed because no one knows they regained awareness following an initial coma diagnosis.
Family members often recognize their loved one’s awareness and bring it to the attention of their doctor, prompting testing and diagnosis.
Treatment and Recovery After a Locked-In Syndrome Diagnosis
When a patient first comes into the hospital, the doctors must focus on identifying and treating the underlying cause of their condition. They are often in a coma and cannot breathe on their own. They may require a feeding tube and other support during the first days and weeks following their arrival.
Even once they recover consciousness and the doctor diagnoses locked-in syndrome, patients require care to sustain life and prevent further injury. This includes actions to prevent bed sores and pneumonia, as well as other infections.
Patients also need rehabilitation and various supportive therapies to allow for as much improvement as possible. Establishing communication is key to improving their quality of life, and their doctors should recommend assistive devices for communication. A power wheelchair provides the necessary mobility to participate in family and community activities.
Understanding the Legal Medical Review Process
After a loved one is diagnosed with locked-in syndrome, many families are left asking difficult questions about what happened and whether anything could have been done differently. In some situations, a delayed stroke diagnosis, delayed treatment, or failure to recognize signs of preserved awareness may have contributed to the outcome. In others, the condition may not have been preventable, even with appropriate medical care.
A legal medical review is a way to better understand the circumstances surrounding the diagnosis and treatment. It is not a lawsuit, and it does not obligate your family to take legal action.
During this process, attorneys and qualified medical experts may review:
- Emergency room and hospital records
- Imaging studies, testing, and treatment timelines
- Communication between providers and specialists
- Whether stroke symptoms were recognized and addressed appropriately
- Whether delays in care may have affected the outcome
The purpose of this review is simply to look carefully at the facts and provide your family with clearer answers. If concerns about medical negligence are identified, your attorney can explain what options may be available and what the next steps could look like. If no negligence is found, families often still gain a better understanding of the medical events that occurred.
Newsome Law understands that families facing locked-in syndrome are already carrying enormous emotional and practical burdens. Any legal review is handled with care, patience, and respect for what your family is experiencing.
Taking Legal Action for Your Loved One Diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome
In some cases, people diagnosed with locked-in syndrome may be able to pursue compensation related to medical treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices, long-term care needs, pain and suffering, and other losses. The attorneys at Newsome Law can review your family’s situation at no cost and help you better understand whether medical negligence may have played a role.
Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may identify concerns such as a missed or delayed stroke diagnosis, delayed treatment, or another preventable breakdown in care. In some cases, another liable party may also be identified.
If and when your family feels ready, a locked-in syndrome lawyer from Newsome Law is available to answer questions, explain the review process, and help you understand your options moving forward.
Call us when you are ready to look for answers.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
5.0
When you’re in a hospital bed all jacked up from an accident and you google best personal injury attorneys, this is who you will find, and they are. Never had been in a lawsuit before and had never needed an attorney. They took such amazing care of me, and handled everything so professionally. A great team of paralegals and attorneys. Thank you so much guys.
5.0
I am so pleased to have worked with this firm. They went above and beyond for my sons case. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone. Always communicated with us, always answered all our questions and fought for my sons case to get the best. Newsome Law thank so much again for all you did. God Bless!
5.0
Partnered with this law firm under unfortunate circumstances and ended up being a great success. They understood the mission and intent, and collectively, conducted all of the behind the scenes work, resulting in a successful end result. If you want one of the best, here’s your opportunity and highly recommended.
5.0
I am so pleased to have worked with this firm. The attention to detail, time spent one on one, not feeling like I was just a number and someone truly caring about what was going on with me and my case was more than I could have ever hoped for. I will use this firm again if I ever need one and will recommend to everyone who asks to reach out to Newsome Law if they find they ever need someone to represent them. More than pleased and happy with everyone and everything from the office. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
5.0
5 Stars???!!!! These guys deserve the universe!!!!!!! They came through with every promise and were professional, diligent, smart, friendly, and understanding of the situation I was going through every step of the way. Very happy with the customer service so if that’s a thing for you, that’s another reason to go here. Honestly you will be making a mistake if you don’t go here. Rich is top tier in the US for attorneys and he definitely fought hard to get the job done here. If you want your money… GO HERE!!!!!!!
5.0
Just an amazing experience with the Newsome Law firm. Our case was very sensitive and close to our hearts. We were treated with the utmost respect for our situation and everything was handled in a professional and timely manner. We cannot say enough good things about the entire team!
5.0
Newsome Law are fantastic! They have been working on my case for the past 3+ years and I have not once had a bad experience with anyone who works there. They have worked tirelessly to help me through my accident and the medical bills that loomed overhead. I am extremely pleased and grateful to have them, fighting on my side during this period in my life.
5.0
Selecting a Law Firm in a time of tragedy , is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. There are so many Firms out there that will chase you down , make unrealistic commitments and set unrealistic expectations. This is the last thing that is needed in such a painful and difficult time
Newsome Law Is a step above all the rest. They are not some run-of-the-mill Firm. But rather an experienced Team of established excellence and success. As one of Newsome Law’s grateful clients, they always operated in the best interest of my family. Were always available to take my call , and were compassionate to the pain and needs of my family. Newsome Law is the right Firm for you to choose.
5.0
Newsome Law represented me in a very positive manner. Always professional, courteous, supportive and attentive. They were always able to keep me apprised of the status of my case. The team on my case were always easy to work with and on top of all issues. I never had to wonder where we were at in the process. I would recommend them to anyone needing this type of help in the future.