Intracranial Injuries with Head Trauma

When people think about serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, pictures of significant accidents with major impacts might come to mind. Unfortunately, individuals can suffer serious intracranial injuries with only minor head trauma. This means that it is critical for everyone to take steps to protect their head and neck in an effort to prevent these life-threatening injuries from occurring. One example is helmet use among motorcycle riders. According to statistics that have been released by the International Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):

Helmet use can reduce the frequency of motorcycle accident fatalities by more than a third.
Helmets can also reduce the frequency of traumatic brain injuries by more than two-thirds.
Despite these numbers, less than 40 percent of the country requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.
In 2017, more than 5,100 people were killed in motorcycle accidents.
This is twice the number of motorcycle riders who were killed just 20 years ago.

Intracranial injuries are a serious problem, and it is essential for everyone to understand the types of trauma that can cause brain damage.

A Study: Intracranial Injuries with Head Trauma

In a study that was published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, a group of medical professionals designed a way to predict which individuals might have suffered an intracranial injury based on their clinical presentation. The researchers diagnosed an intracranial injury using a CT scan. CT scans can identify visible head injuries such as:

Skull fractures
Brain bleeds
Abscesses in the brain
Cerebral herniations
Swelling in the brain

CT scans are completed in seconds which makes them ideal in emergency situations. The researchers conducted a chart review of all of the individuals at their hospital who presented to their emergency room following a blunt impact to the head. They narrowed down their patient population, looking for individuals who underwent a CT scan.

Results of the Study: Traumatic Brain Injuries

During the study, the researchers found close to 1,500 patients who required a CT scan following a blow to the head. In nearly 10 percent of these individuals, there was an intracranial injury identified. About 1 percent of the individuals who received a CT scan wound up requiring surgery for increased intracranial pressure or another medical emergency. Some indicators of an intracranial injury include:

Pedestrians and bicyclists who were struck by a motor vehicle
Signs and symptoms of a basilar skull fracture
Age over 60 years
An abnormal neurological exam such as altered levels of consciousness, an inability to move an arm or a leg, or trouble speaking

The Treatment of an Intracranial Injury

In cases where an individual has been diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, several different factors must be addressed in the treatment plan. Some of these include:

Pain: Those who suffer a TBI often develop issues with pain control. All of the nerves in the body travel to the brain. So, when the brain is damaged, the pain receptors can be altered as well. This can lead to serious pain control issues.

Motor Function: Motor deficits can develop following a TBI. This can make it difficult for people to walk, talk, read, write, and even get out of bed in the morning. Physical therapy is important for addressing flexibility, weakness, and range of motion problems.

Memory: Memory and cognition can be affected by a head or brain injury. Some people might have issues forming new memories. Others could have problems remembering old ones. Some traumatic brain injuries can impact an individual’s performance at work or in school. The faster a treatment plan can be initiated, the sooner families will have some idea of how the head injury may have impacted a loved one’s mentation.

Watch YouTube Video: How Brain Trauma Affects Behavior Medical Courses. This video explains how a traumatic brain injury can affect someone’s personality and behavior.

Contacting a Trained Brain Injury Attorney

Head injuries can lead to neurological damage which could cause permanent complications. These complications can be challenging for families to manage. Loved ones could have trouble understanding the injury, finding medical resources, and adjusting to a new normal. It is crucial to ask for help in this situation from a trained brain injury lawyer in San Francisco. A few ways a trained injury attorney can help include:

Collecting and analyzing the records from the accident to ensure that the various details are considered appropriately.
Assisting families in making objective decisions during a challenging and stressful time.
Helping families seek damages related to the head injury, its complications, and any pain and suffering.
Moving a case to the courtroom when necessary.

Individuals need to know that they do not have to face this difficult situation by themselves. A trained San Francisco traumatic brain injury lawyer can provide assistance which can help in the recovery process. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Your loved ones could be owed a significant financial reward.

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in San Francisco

I’m Ed Smith, a San Francisco traumatic brain injury lawyer. Even the slightest of impacts to the head and neck area could result in severe intracranial head trauma. These injuries could have complications that impact the family for the rest of their lives. If one of your family members has been diagnosed with a severe intracranial injury following a traumatic accident, please reach out to me at (415) 805-7284 or by calling my toll-free number at (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.

I am an esteemed member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and of the Top One Percent, a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

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Intracranial Injuries with Head Trauma