The Life Care Plan: Securing Your Loved One’s Future
Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a condition where a person can't move or speak, but their mind stays fully awake and...
Doctors can run a series of tests to rule out other conditions and determine brain function to confirm a locked-in syndrome diagnosis. Diagnosing this condition is often difficult, and could take weeks, months, or even years before doctors become aware of a patient’s cognitive awareness. In many cases, doctors only diagnose a patient after the patient’s family brings their eye movements or other signs to the attention of doctors.
Below, we detail how doctors diagnose locked-in syndrome in patients.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Rich Newsome
Catastrophic Injury & Medical Malpractice Attorney
25+ years experience
Doctors can run a series of tests to rule out other conditions and determine brain function to confirm a locked-in syndrome diagnosis. Diagnosing this condition is often difficult, and could take weeks, months, or even years before doctors become aware of a patient’s cognitive awareness. In many cases, doctors only diagnose a patient after the patient’s family brings their eye movements or other signs to the attention of doctors.
Below, we detail how doctors diagnose locked-in syndrome in patients.
Doctors can use several different tests to diagnose locked-in syndrome and understand the damage to the brain. This includes:
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.
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 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
If a delayed diagnosis led to permanent harm, you may be entitled to compensation. Speak with our legal team today.
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:
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.
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.
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
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