Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injury: Present Practice and Future Possibilities
Traumatic brain injury is a very scary possibility. Following any blow to the head, whether or not there is visible injury, it is important to evaluate the possibility of traumatic brain injury to prevent lethal or disabling consequences.
Signs You Must Be Evaluated
It is impossible to predict the likelihood of brain injury from any given blow to the head. Sometimes people suffer apparently severe head impacts, but suffer no adverse affects, while others can suffer significant, negative consequences from a very minor impact. Here are some definite signs that you should be evaluated for traumatic brain injury after suffering a blow to the head or significant whiplash:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Tingling, numbness, or pain in the extremities
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Changes in behavior
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Slurred or slowed speech or difficulty speaking
- Difficulty concentrating
You should also be evaluated if this is your second head impact in a relatively short period of time. Because traumatic brain injuries are so unpredictable, you should see a doctor if your find yourself feeling generally unwell or "off" in some way after your accident.
Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injury
Currently, doctors use a combination of three components to determine whether you have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
A Physical exam involves first checking the head to see if there is any sign of open head injury. Bruising on other parts of the body are also evaluated as a gauge of how much force the impact may have put on your brain. The nurse or doctor will evaluate your alertness and responsiveness. It may also involve an evaluation of your reflexes and neuromuscular responses, including checking for what is known as the Babinski response in which your toes respond abnormally to heel-to-toe stimulation of the outer sole of the foot.
A Questionnaire is used to attempt to evaluate your cognitive ability after your injury. Your verbal responsiveness is an important criteria. Your mood and intellectual resources--including memory and ability to concentrate--will also be evaluated.
Brain imaging using a variety of different techniques will also normally be employed. X-rays are a basic imaging technique that can identify skull fractures and other large-scale injuries. MRIs and CT scans can identify many soft-tissue injuries and sometimes even point to the presence of functional impairment as a result of brain injury.
Future Possibilities
Recent discoveries also point to new techniques for directly imaging and assessing brain injuries.
In 2006, researchers reported on the development of a promising new technology known as magnetoencephalography (MEG), which has the ability to assess the function of brain networks in real time with a scan of 45-60 seconds. Subsequent research has already pointed to MEG's improved ability to detect neurological damage over currently used techniques.
In April 2009, researchers were able to use a two-photon microscope to examine the way the brain's own immune cells assess and potentially repair brain damage. This may lead to a new technique for using the body's own mechanisms for identifying and repairing brain damage at a microscopic level, which may be especially important in the treatment of diffused axonal injury, a very common result of concussions that in the past has been very difficult to diagnose and treat.
Help after Diagnosis
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, the consequences may be devastating. The medical and other expenses involved in recovering from this type of injury may be extremely high. If your injury was due to the negligence or misconduct of others, a brain injury lawsuit may be able to help you cover your expenses.
About the Author:
If you are in the Norfolk, Virginia area, consult the website of the personal injury law firm Kalfus & Nachman, Attorneys at Law, to learn more about your options.