Treating A Traumatic Brain Injury

The brain is one of the most important organs in the human body, controlling our behavior, bodily movements, and ability to communicate. This means that any injury to the brain can have devastating consequences for accident victims, who could struggle with everything from mobility and mood swings to sleep patterns and cognition.

Treating a TBI

 A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden jolt, blow, or bump to the head causes a disruption in the brain’s normal functioning. The kind of treatment that a person requires for this type of injury will depend on the severity of the injury itself. Mild TBIs, for instance, usually require relative rest, which means limiting physical or cognitive activities, at least for a few days, after which, a person can most likely return to work, school, and recreational activities. Treating a moderate or severe TBI, on the other hand, is more complicated and is geared towards reducing secondary damage from inflammation, reduced oxygen supply to the brain, or bleeding, which could require the administration of certain medications, surgical intervention, and rehabilitation.

TBI Medications

 To limit further injury to the brain after a TBI, medical providers may need to prescribe and administer:

• Anti-seizure drugs, which are often prescribed in the first week after surgery;
• Coma-inducing drugs, for instances where the blood vessels in the brain have become compressed by increased pressure and can’t supply the normal amount of oxygen; and
• Diuretics, which reduce the amount of fluid in the tissue and when given intravenously, reduce pressure in the brain.

Fortunately, the cost of these medications is often recoverable when accident victims file a legal claim against the person who caused their injury.

Surgical Intervention

 Someone who suffers a TBI may also require surgery to minimize damage to the brain tissue. This could involve:

• Repairing blood vessels to stop bleeding inside the brain;
• Removing blood clots that can put pressure on the brain and damage brain tissue;
• Setting skull fractures or removing broken pieces of skull, which allows the surrounding tissues to heal; or
• Relieving pressure inside the skull from blood or swelling with the use of a shunt or drain.

These kinds of surgical interventions are complicated and require hospital stays, complex procedures, follow-up care, and medications, all of which can be expensive.

Rehabilitation 

Most accident victims who sustain a significant TBI will require some sort of rehabilitation. In the most severe cases, for instance, a person may need to relearn basic skills, like walking and talking. Therapy typically begins in the hospital, but continues at inpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient services, where patients can seek the help of rehabilitation specialists, such as:

• Occupational therapists;
• Physical therapists;
• Speech and language therapists;
• Neuropsychologists;
• Social workers and case managers; and
• Vocational counselors.

Accident victims who can prove that their injury was the result of someone else’s negligence can often recover compensation for these and other TBI rehabilitation.

Tampa Brain Injury Lawyers 

For help seeking compensation for your own accident-related TBI treatment, call the dedicated Tampa brain injury attorneys at Anderson & Anderson today. You can reach us at 813-251-0072 or via online message.

Sources: 

nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/tbi/conditioninfo/treatment

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378561