Types of brain injuries
Brain injuries can affect one area of the brain, multiple areas of the brain or the brain as a whole, depending on which parts of the brain sustained the most damage. No two accidents or injuries are exactly alike and the type and extent of damage from a brain injury can vary dramatically. The two primary types of brain injuries are traumatic brain injuries and acquired brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries
When external force is applied to the skull by either a violent jolt or blow to the head, it can result in traumatic injury to the brain. As reported by the CDC, there were more than two and a half million Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) in the United States in a recent year. While many of the TBIs occurred because of a direct injury to the head, sustaining a TBI in conjunction with another type of injury is not uncommon. If you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury, it will fall into one of the following categories.
Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
Receiving proper treatment after a TBI is essential to recovery. Once emergency medical care has been completed, many doctors will employ a combination of treatment methods including medication, rehabilitation and in some cases, surgery.
Diuretics may be prescribed to help reduce pressure inside the brain. Anti-seizure drugs can significantly reduce an individual’s chances of having a life-threatening seizure, particularly within the first few weeks following your injury. In cases where the TBI was sufficiently severe to require the patient be put into a coma, coma-inducing drugs may be administered. Surgery can be beneficial in the removal of hematomas or cerebral contusions that have been putting pressure on the brain. Surgery can also be used to repair skull fractures or open a portion of the skull to release pressure and drain excess fluid.
Rehabilitation is the lengthiest portion of a TBI patient’s recovery program. The level of severity will determine what types of rehabilitation specialists a patient may be required to see, as well as how long treatment will need to be continued. Rehabilitation specialists can include:
- Psychiatrists
- TBI nurse specialists
- Physical therapists
- Rehabilitation nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Neuropsychologists
- Speech and language pathologists
- Social workers
Following through with a doctor’s recommended treatment plan will help dramatically reduce of the risk of secondary or further damage being caused to the brain.
Hawaii’s trusted personal injury lawyers
Surviving a traumatic brain injury or taking care of an individual who has sustained a traumatic brain injury, can be very difficult. Rest assured you are not alone. There are countless resources and support programs that you can access to help you along the way.
Our firm is also here to provide you with trusted legal representation when a TBI has been caused as the result of another person’s negligence or neglect. Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner is Hawaii’s trusted injury law firm. If you or someone you love has experienced a brain injury, please call us today at 808-537-2525. We can help.