Long Island

Published on: July 9, 2012

Deaths from ‘injury and poisoning’ are fourth in age-standardized rates

by Stephen Bilkis

Deaths from ‘injury and poisoning’ are fourth in age-standardized rates for males and females in most Western countries, according to studies, coming after circulatory, neoplastic, and respiratory diseases.

For young people in many nations, traffic-related incidents are the most likely cause of death. Though the numbers have been decreasing over the decades, percentage-wise, it is still something many physicians and other health specialists have to deal with regularly. Many of the instantaneous deaths from these accidents were due to chest and multiple injuries, but those that managed to reach the hospital and died subsequently mostly died due to injuries to the head.

Head injuries are always a high proportion of fatal injuries, doctors in The Bronx have learned. These injuries are often motor-vehicle related and among these, in many places, head injuriesare the leading cause of death.

Published on: July 4, 2012

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now a well-defined clinical syndrome

by Stephen Bilkis

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now a well-defined clinical syndrome, according to doctors on Long Island. The 2000 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision states that some patients who experience life-threatening events might well feel intense fear or helplessness which becomes PTSD.

Victims of PTSD suffer through a number of symptoms, which may include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, a loss of concentration, sudden anger or irritation, hypervigilance, and a heightened response to being startled. All of these can cause a detrimental effect on the victim to enjoy life.

Mild explosive blast traumatic brain injury(bTBI) has many of these symptoms in common with PTSD, including changes in sleep patterns and moods. There are some differences, however, studies in Manhattan have learned. Headaches, for instance, are much more likely with TBI, while hypervigilance and the tendency to startle more easily is more common with PTSD.

Published on: June 14, 2012

There are three major means researchers have used

by Stephen Bilkis

It is important to learn more about brain injury so they might be better treated, Lawyers have determined. There are three major means researchers have used to learn more about such things: experimental, mathematical, and observational.

Many of the things people know about brain injury comes from experimental studies. Test subjects have included human cadavers, anesthetized animals, and animal cadavers. In some cases, physical models or computer models of heads can also be used. Experiments conducted on living humans are limited to non-injurious impact, of course.

When it comes to human cadavers, doctors have learned, there is representation of what happens to the general anatomy, but not to systems like the circulatory system, because the cadaver has no working organs. And animals differ enough from humans that beneficial details may be lost in such experiments.

Published on: May 18, 2012

Sometimes the extent of moderate or severe damage caused by bTBI (explosive blast traumatic brain injury) is difficult to determine at first

by Stephen Bilkis

Sometimes the extent of moderate or severe damage caused by bTBI (explosive blast traumatic brain injury) is difficult to determine at first, doctors have told sources. Severe facial trauma can prevent reliable neurological examination, especially when it comes to examining the pupils for reaction. Specialized tools are often necessary to even make triage decisions that could save lives.

The chaos of war only compounds the difficulty in making decisions when it comes to severe injury. When a doctor or other medical professional is used to medical centers in the United States, where there are adequate resources and help in the form of other professionals near at hand, it can be very difficult to work on a battlefield where everything is in short supply, but the number of patients is much greater.

Difficult decisions have to be made in such environments. It isn’t uncommon for a great number of severely injured patients to arrive at the same time. Efficient triage is essential for the best use of limited resources. There may be few health care providers, no operating rooms or CT scanners, and not many blood products to go around. It may even be impossible to evacuate patients to a better facility. The whole idea behind triage is take resources that may not be adequate and stretch them out to their best possible use to help the largest number of patients. They must be stabilized and their lives preserved until they can be evacuated into a better circumstance. Hospitals in Long Island and Manhattan are watching this situation.

Published on: May 7, 2012

Blast TBI (traumatic brain injury) happens to many combatants,

by Stephen Bilkis

Blast TBI (traumatic brain injury) happens to many combatants, according to a study. It can rightfully be considered a new class of TBI. While it might share a lot of features with standard TBI, it has some unique aspects that are all its own.

The milder forms of TBI can be very similar to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), but it also has distinct aspects of its own. The military currently uses civilian standards of care for TBI when it comes to bTBI (explosive blast TBI), but they are constantly revising their standards to better provide for those injured on the field, according to sources. The theater of war requires different standards of medical practice.

It is apparent that there need to be more studies done on the precise effects of bTBI, both scientifically and clinically. The research will have to be focused upon how explosive blasts can lead to TBI. It is also important to learn how prevalent this disease is, and the exact causes. Once the research reaches a certain level, it will become much easier to diagnose and treat bTBI. A clinical definition of bTBI should quickly create the means to treat bTBI.

Published on: April 30, 2012

Information collection is an important component of dealing with head injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

Information collection is an important component of dealing with head injuries. The use of registry systems for head injuries will allow medical professionals to track patterns of injury and learn better methods of preventing them. The lack of proper pre-hospital care can mean the difference between life and death. Most developed countries today, however, are adequately prepared to care for and transport patients when a head injury has occurred.

Pre-hospital care is another thing to consider when it comes to head injuries, according to doctors. Modern trauma care systems have refined resuscitation, triage, evacuation and primary and secondary care for the patient with severe or multiple injuries so that more lives are being saved than ever before. The system is regionalized in order to provide the best possible care, depending upon the specific circumstance. Regional Resource Trauma Centers provide education and research programs, as well as all levels of care. Community Trauma Centers provide care, but not education or research. Rural Trauma Hospitals in Nassau, Long Island may have limited resources, but they are able to stabilize then transfer patients to another facility.

Head injuries are a component in the vast majority of fatalities due to trauma. The involvement of neurosurgeons and systems of care reduce these fatalities dramatically, according to doctors. Minimal standards for the treatment of severe neurological injury have been suggested and even implemented in many places. Underfunding and difficulty in recruiting medical professionals to trauma care remains a problem, however.

Published on: April 13, 2012

Study Finds Several Cases of Brain Injury Induced by Vaccines

by Stephen Bilkis

Back in 1986, the U.S. Congress created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. The original jurisdiction of this Program covered children’s claims of injury resulting from vaccines.

With the necessity of vaccinations and because most children receive several vaccinations for daycare and school, it is of utmost importance that the VICP provide its services and compensations in fairness, due process, and transparency.

A study was recently conducted in both Long Island and New York City to empirically investigate the Program. In the study, claims that the VICP compensated for vaccine-induced encephalopathy and seizuredisorder were examined. According to a report, the VICP has compensated roughly 2,500 claims of vaccine injury since its beginning. 83 cases of “acknowledged vaccine-induced brain damage” that include autism, a severe disorder that affects speech, social communication, and behavior. 21 of these cases brought before the Court of Federal Claims, which administers the VICP, the Court ruled that the petitioners had autism, or described autism. In the 62 remaining cases, the study found settlement agreements where Health and Human Services (HHS) compensated children with vaccine-induced brain damage, who also have autism or an autism spectrum disorder.

Published on: April 1, 2012

The symptoms of bTBI (explosive blast traumatic brain injury) can actually be very subtle,

by Stephen Bilkis

The symptoms of bTBI (explosive blast traumatic brain injury) can actually be very subtle, doctors tell patients. Sometimes, there is no outward sign of injury until certain symptoms begin to arise, like headaches, vertigo, or short-term memory loss. Because of this, victims of bTBI should be evaluated by a physician or psychologist to determine how extensive their injuries might be, if any. Neurophysical evaluation should be a part of this examination. There are currently efforts to create neuropsychological tests that can be automated on laptop computer or are easy enough to be used to by first responders who may have less training. Skull fracture can be uncovered and treated.

Patient who may have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) should see a combat stress team provider or a psychiatrist as soon as possible. It is very important to remember, expertss have in Manhattan and Long Island hospitals have learned, that bTBI and PTSD can have very similar symptoms and may occur alone or together in a patient. It may be difficult to tell them apart.

When TBI may be present in a patient, that person should be excused from all combat-related duties. The patient should be put on light duty until the symptoms are gone or until he or she is moved to a place where advanced neuroimaging, like MRI, may be used, and a more detailed evaluation can be used. Doctors have determined that it is vital for a patient suffering brain injury, or who may be suffering from it, to be treated with the utmost care, so the condition does not become worse.

Published on: March 13, 2012

Baby Killed by “Very Violent” Brain Injury

by Stephen Bilkis

Police describe the death of a six-month-old baby Ngaruawahia girl as a “very violent” incident. The girl died from a traumatic brain injury(TBI), the post mortem report reveals.

The child had been admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after suffering non-accidental injuries.

The small baby died at Starship Hospital last Thursday after life support was turned off, a doctor sadly states.

Published on: March 11, 2012

Minnesota Man Charged for Injuring Baby

by Stephen Bilkis

A 25-year-old man from Coon Rapids, Minnesota has been charged with assault and malicious punishment of a child. Prosecutors allege he shook his own five-month-old daughter, causing bleeding on her brain injury.

The baby was taken to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis for treatment, sources told police. As for the suspect, he is in county jail, with his bail set at $100,000.

Police in Coon Rapids were called to Mercy Hospital to follow up on a report of a possible “shaken baby”. Medical staff had noted the baby had significant bleeding in her brain and was in cardiac arrest, but had been stabilized, thanks to hospital efforts.