Traumatic brain injuries are people’s most severe injuries in an accident. Like many other medical injuries and illnesses, these injuries can range widely in severity; however, what separates brain injuries from most other medical complications is that the consequences of brain injuries can be wide-ranging and far-reaching.

Some of these consequences can become chronic, and many could last for the rest of the patient’s life. Many accidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries, which everyone should know.

Whenever someone decides to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, they risk being involved in a car accident. While car accidents can range in severity from a single-car collision to a multi-car pileup, it doesn’t take a significant accident to cause severe medical injuries, including neurological damage.

• Motorcycle Accidents: Many people enjoy riding motorcycles because they create a feeling of freedom as the wind rushes past people; however, motorcycles also do not offer significant protection for those riding them. A motorcycle accident can result in several medical injuries and bone fractures when someone strikes another vehicle or the pavement. Everyone on a motorcycle must wear a helmet to protect their brain from harm; however, no helmet is perfect. When people strike the ground, their heads can hit the pavement with tremendous force, resulting in skull fractures, brain bleeds, and severe neurological damage.
• Auto Accidents: Even a typical auto accident can damage brain tissue. When someone stops short, such as when their vehicle collides with another object, the seatbelt restrains the body from moving forward and striking the dashboard; however, there is no seatbelt around the driver or passenger’s head. The head and neck area can move freely and can hit the door, window, steering wheel, or dashboard. This can lead to many head injuries ranging from a concussion to a cerebral contusion or hematoma.
• Truck Accidents: Those who drive big rigs may feel like they have extra protection due to their vehicle’s size, but large trucks also take more force to stop. This means that truck accidents are often more severe. Some drivers or passengers could wind up being flung from the vehicle in a severe accident, creating the potential for catastrophic personal injuries such as permanent brain damage. Anyone operating a vehicle as large as a tractor-trailer should handle it extra care.

Individuals believed to have suffered a brain injury are transported to the hospital for emergent care. A CT scan will be performed to quickly assess whether there are bone fractures or a brain bleed. If a bleed is found, emergent surgery could be necessary to evacuate the liquid building in the skull cavity and relieve any swelling in the brain.

After the patient has been put to sleep, a neurosurgeon will shave the patient’s head and peel back a portion of the patient’s scalp. This is done to reveal the skull. Then, the surgeon will use specialized equipment to remove a part of the patient’s skull, called the bone flap. Any liquid building in the skull cavity will be removed, and any continuing bleeds will be stopped.

By removing the skull flap, the brain tissue can swell without any risk of herniation, which would be catastrophic and potentially life-threatening. Once the patient’s brain has stopped swelling and reduced back to average size, the bone flap will be replaced, and the patient’s skull will take time to heal.

The surgery is considered significant when a patient’s skull is opened up. There is always the potential for complications after surgery, such as a stitch rupture or an infection. Close follow-up is necessary when the brain tissue is involved to ensure that no new neurological complications have developed and the patient is recovering.

If patients are asked to follow up with their surgeon, they should do so as instructed. The surgeon will ask the patient if they have any concerns at regular follow-up appointments. The surgeon will inspect the surgical site to look for signs of infection and ensure the stitches remain intact. If dressings need to be changed, the surgeon will do so at the visit.

With brain surgery, the physician could also perform a few quick neurological exam procedures to check for the development of any complications. These will be compared to any symptoms that might have developed due to the traumatic brain injury. As the patient recovers from the injury and surgery, the prognosis and new baseline will become more apparent and handled case-by-case.

The video below discusses how new technology can treat traumatic brain injuries.

There are many different causes of brain injuries; however, they all deserve the attention of a qualified professional. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact our experienced West Sacramento brain injury lawyers at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly, free advice. See our case history of verdicts and settlements.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.13.23] Photo by Harrison Leece on Unsplash  [cs 1053]}