Long Island

Published on: November 2, 2011

Sledding can be dangerous

by Stephen Bilkis

Many young people love to go sledding especially when school is out and they can have loads of fun in the park. However, parents have to make sure that their kids are safe when it comes to sledding. In the past, it has been the reason for many emergency room visits; some that are very traumatic.

The current weather conditions make it even more fun as children from all over delve into the snow to feel the exhilaration of sledding. One local physician agreed that although sledding is fun, both parents and children have to keep in mind that extra care has to be taken. In fact, both physician and Lawyer recall many incidents that occur where the individual receive massive injuries to the brain that changed their lives considerably.

The emergency rooms at many local hospitals in Long Island, according to one source, are busy during the winter months with accidents related to sledding. Injuries range from a broken arm or leg to a severe brain injury.

Published on: September 21, 2011

Less than 1 in 10 patients die from their combat-related injuries.

by Stephen Bilkis

New York Brain Injury Lawyers have documented a decrease in the killed:wounded ratio thanks to advances in medical science. Less than 1 in 10 patients die from their combat-related injuries. Even on the battlefield, there have been great medical innovations. Clinical improvements used to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI) include early decompressive craniectomy, neuro-critical care, cerebral angiography, transcranial Doppler, hypertonic saline, TBI clinical management guidelines, among other techniques.

All the new medical procedures have resulted in a greater survival rate for fighters injured in combat, according to New York Brain Injury Lawyers. This, however, leaves a great many with debilitating injuries, which means new procedures for rehabilitation must be developed.

The press reports the frequency of explosive blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) as around 40-60% of deployed U.S. combatants. Another report estimates as many as 320,000 or 20% of all forces deployed suffer from some kind of TBI. There is little evidence to support these claims and a comprehensive study of bTBI has yet to occur in places like New York City and Long Island where many veterans live.

Published on: August 30, 2011

New York Brain Injury Lawyer – military refuse to pay for brain injury treatment

by Stephen Bilkis

A source indicated that the health department of the military is rejecting insurance claims for brain injurypatients who have had traumatic injuries. They are doing this even though doctors and lawyers across the nation are supporting it.

The agency in Long Island and Manhattan did their own internal study in 2009 and reported that they found that cognitive rehab therapy done for brain injuries by itself was not scientifically proven to work for patients. They claim that this kind of therapy takes too long and is too expensive.

A representative from the Military Times newspaper, said, “There is not much evidence provided by research that proves the benefits of treatment provided to a traumatic brain injury patient.” A Brain Injury Lawyer and other law makers disagree that this is the case. Of course, the projected amount for a program that last for four months is $50,000, which is reasonable considering the type of injury. The patient will have to relearn specific motor skills.

Published on: August 25, 2011

The way surgeons deal with shrapnel or bone fragments in the brain has changed

by Stephen Bilkis

The way surgeons deal with shrapnel or bone fragments in the brain has changed since the days of Korea or Vietnam, doctors tell NY City Brain Injury Lawyers. It was once the standard to remove every last fragment of bone or any other foreign body, so the brain would have a lower risk of infection and there would be less chance of developing post-traumatic epilepsy. Studies of Vietnam War patients has shown that removal of all fragments is not actually necessary, though objects that cause gross contamination should still be removed.

Closure of the scalp and replacement of the dura are absolutely vital to prevent, or at least reduce the chance of, CSF leakage and meningitis. A soldier who seems to have good neurological status, with only small fragments in the brain may be able to be treated locally to prevent leakage. One with a more extensive injury will have to undergo a large decompressive creniectomy and removal of the fragments, New York Brain Injury Lawyers have learned.

Another source of head injury from an explosive blast can result from being bodily thrown by the explosion. The soldier’s head could strike some other object, causing tertiary blast injury. This can cause injuries in a number of places in the patient’s skull. There is also the risk of infection in cases such as these, often from bacteria that are drug-resistant. A number of dangerous injuries can result from such trauma, New York Brain Injury Lawyers know. It can be very important to repair such injuries as facial fractures quickly. Doctors in New York City and Long Island must be aware of the different kinds of injuries which result from brain trauma.

Published on: August 17, 2011

Blast TBI (traumatic brain injury) happens to many combatants

by Stephen Bilkis

Blast TBI (traumatic brain injury) happens to many combatants, according to New York City Brain Injury Lawyers 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. New York City and Long Island veterans are aware of these situations and the danger involved.

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 New York Brain Injury Lawyers. 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: June 17, 2011

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

by Stephen Bilkis

Motorcycle riding has many inherent risks. To those who love the freedom of this transportation mode, though, the beloved vehicle gets too much flak for being dangerous. Enter the National Motorcycle Safety Awareness month.

As for the statistics, motorcycles make up only 3% of all registered vehicles in the U.S. A New York Brain Injury Law Officer reports, though, that they account for almost 15% of all traffic fatalities.

This May take a chance to review driving safety tips. For example, simply wearing a helmet halves the chances of dying in a crash. Wearing protective clothing can help avoid some of the more minor abrasions that can happen.

Published on: June 13, 2011

Children don’t always need CT scans after head injury

by Stephen Bilkis

Period of observation can avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation A recent multifacility study of more than 40,000 children with minor blunt head trauma showed that observing the patients for a period of time reduced the use of the head computed tomography (CT) scans. The study led by Children’s Hospital Boston and UC Davis Health System, says the reduction in CT scan usage does not compromise patient care, but it does reduce children’s exposure to ionizing radiation.

Roughly half of the studied children taken to hospital emergency rooms for head injuries receive a head CT, yet actual Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is uncommon.

According to the assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, who is also a pediatric emergency specialist at Children’s Hospital Boston, said, “Only 2 to 3 percent of children with head trauma really have something serious going on.” She co-authored the study with the professor of pediatrics, who is also the professor and chair of emergency medicine, at UC Davis.

Published on: June 2, 2011

There have been a number of military medical treatments for blast TBI

by Stephen Bilkis

The current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to a great many more serious injuries to United States service members. One of the most prevalent and dangerous is explosive blast traumatic brain injury (TBI). New York Brain Injury Lawyers have been studying the rising trend.

There have been a number of military medical treatments for blast TBI which have been a success in the war theater, such as decompressive craniectomy, cerebral angiography, transcranial Doppler, hypertonic resuscitation fluids, and others. There has been similar progress stateside in neurosurgery, neuro-critical care, and rehabilitation for patients suffering injuries caused by blast TBI.

As they continue to treat these injuries, military physicians have been able to clinically categorize many types of blast TBI. One of these important discoveries is the development of psuedoaneurysms and vasospasm in severe blast TBI victims, which can cause delayed decompensation. Another is that mild blast TBI often has very similar clinical features to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some physicians have conclude that the injuries explosive trauma causes to the nervous system might be more complex than might appear at first examination.