Deadly Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are a major cause of death in the United States. There are two forms of TBI: closed and penetrating. While less common, penetrating brain injuries account for a third of all deaths caused by TBI. Let’s look at what penetrating brain injuries are and what can be done to treat such injuries.
What Are Penetrating Brain Injuries?
A penetrating brain injury is one where the scalp and skull are breached, and the outer layer of the three membranes that envelop the brain is also breached. The projectile does not exit the skull.
What Causes a Penetrating Brain Injury
Penetrating injuries to the brain can be caused by any projectile from a bullet to a sharp fragment entering the skull after a car accident. While the number of violent deaths due to gunshot wounds to the head has increased, even games have caused penetrating head injuries. To show how penetrating head injuries can happen due to non-violent games, consider the, since banned, Jart injuries. Here, a lawn dart penetrated the brain of a seven-year-old child and led to the product being taken off the market.
The Outcome of Penetrating Head Wounds
The morbidity and comorbidity of penetrating head injuries are high, despite advances in treatment. In a study of 314 patients with penetrating head wounds, mortality rates were estimated to be about 92 percent overall. A high velocity penetrating projectile has the worst outcome. Bad prognosticators are hemorrhage in the subarachnoid membrane, respiratory distress, a fixed dilated pupil, and low blood pressure.
Treatment
Treatment for penetrating head wounds usually involves surgery. The reasons for surgery are:
- Hematoma removal: The size of the hematoma or collected blood may be taken into account. There are considerations such as the person’s clinical state, his or her age, and where the hematoma is located. Hematomas in certain areas are most likely to warrant removal. Hematomas can place pressure on the underlying brain tissue and may cause herniation of the brain, which is potentially fatal.
- Removal of dead brain tissue
- Active hemorrhage control
- Removal of foreign bodies such as bone or metal from the brain: Fragments of bullets or projectiles as well as hair and other particles carried into the brain are generally removed to prevent infection. Bullets lodged in a deep part of the brain are often allowed to remain since trying to remove them may damage more brain tissue.
Complications
One major complication caused by penetrating brain injuries is infection. Patients may suffer meningitis with skull fracture and concomitant cerebral spinal fluid leak as they carry infectious material into the brain. Often the source of the infection is a trajectory through the sinuses.
An abscess in the brain is another problem with these types of injury. The abscess may develop slowly and not be symptomatic until months or years after the injury. Surgery is needed to drain the abscess, followed by an extended regimen of antibiotics.
Epilepsy often follows a penetrating head injury. The incidence of epilepsy in penetrating injury is two times that seen in non-penetrating or closed head injury. It is often responsible for the death. Psychological and intellectual changes are often seen in surviving patients, however, with time, some return to a functional life.
Elk Grove Brain Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove brain injury lawyer. Penetrating brain injuries can be the cause of wrongful death or lead to long periods of hospitalization and rehabilitation. If this has happened to someone in your family, you need the insight an injury lawyer can provide. Call me at (916) 694-0002 in the area or (800) 404-5400 toll-free. I will provide you with friendly and free advice. If you find it more convenient, you can get in touch with me online too.
I’ve helped residents of Elk Grove and Northern California after they experienced the loss of family members to wrongful death or were injured in car accidents since 1982.
Check out what former clients have said about my law practice on Avvo, Yelp, and Google. You can also see my verdicts and settlements I’ve won.
I was inducted as a California member of a forum of trial lawyers who have won $1 million for clients. Go to their website at milliondollaradvocates.com to see more.
As an injury lawyer, I recognize how clients want to understand personal injury law when an accident has devastated their lives. That is the reason I founded and continue to own AutoAccident.com.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/hospital-emergency-room-entrance-
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