Manhattan

Published on: October 24, 2011

No one is certain what really causes primary explosive blast traumatic brain injury

by Stephen Bilkis

No one is certain what really causes primary explosive blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI), according to New York Brain Injury Lawyers. Clearly, the “cause” is the explosion and the mechanism by which it works is the interaction of explosive force upon the human body, but this does not medically explain everything that occurs.

There are primary and secondary injury mechanisms when it comes to trauma. Primary injury mechanisms can be attributed directly to the cause of the injury, like laceration from a cut. Secondary injuries are physiological responses, like bleeding or bruising. When it comes to bTBI, there is probably more than one primary injury mechanism involved.

The blast produced by an explosive device travels through a medium like air or water in a wave of pressure. Basically, a great deal of energy is chemically produced. Mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic energy is transferred into the surrounding medium, and into anyone who happens to be in the blast radius.

Published on: October 2, 2011

A helmet can be excellent protection against penetrating objects

by Stephen Bilkis

Injuries caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) can be complicated, NY Brain Injury Lawyers have learned. Such a blast can cause a number of injuries that have their own problems, like traumatically amputated limbs, multiple penetrating wounds, and heavy bleeding. It takes a great deal of skill and knowledge to treat injuries from an explosive blast, because there are so many different injuries caused by it.

A number of subspecialists are required to help the patient, under the direction of a trauma surgeon. Soft-tissue loss is common, in addition to severe burns to the face and scalp. When it comes to the military, a helmet can be excellent protection against penetrating objects, so if the blast does cause penetrating object injuries, it is often through the face, orbit of the eye, or base of the skull, all areas not covered by the helmet. Even when the helmet does prevent an object from penetrating the skull there can still be associated cTBI (closed head traumatic blast injury) that may cause anything from mild concussions to severe contusions and skull fractures, where the helmet is dented from the blow, doctors in Manhattan and Queens have discovered.

The force of a flying object and where it penetrates are of utmost importance, doctors have told New York Brain Injury Lawyers. Something traveling at a low speed might penetrate the skull, but actually cause little damage, while something traveling a greater speed could very well cause a secondary cavity in a vital area.

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 7, 2011

Irish High Court Settles Brain Injury Case

by Stephen Bilkis

A woman who claims to have suffered brain damage from a hospital procedure performed shortly after her honeymoon has gotten a settlement after her case was taken to the Irish High Court.

The 46-year-old victim from Loughlinstown, Ireland, was described as “bubbly and vivacious” before her injury. She was employed as receptionist then, but now her injury requires her to have care 24 hours a day.

It was the victim’s husband who brought the suit before the court, on behalf of his wife. The charges alleged the hospital system and the surgeon who performed the operation were negligent and acted in breach of duty at St. Michael’s Hospital, where the victim was treated.

Published on: July 29, 2011

Young English Coma Victim Recovers

by Stephen Bilkis

A young English boy was rendered comatose for several days after a playground concussion, but awoke to the great joy of his family, Manhattan Brain Injury Lawyers have learned.

The 11-year-old boy suffered from a blood clot after hitting his head on the frame of a swing in Darlington, England.

While he lay unconscious, his family truly did not know whether he would live or die, but soon after he woke, the doctors took him off the critical list and his recovery has been nothing short of remarkable.

Published on: July 22, 2011

Babysitter Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Slamming Toddler’s Head into Wall

by Stephen Bilkis

Last Monday, a Mebane woman pleaded guilty to slamming the head of a toddler against a wall. She was babysitting the boy; her actions may have caused life-long brain damage.

The 23-year-old resident of Norris Mobile Home Park pleaded guilty to the December 11th charge of felony child abuse inflicting serious injury. A New York Criminal Attorney reports that investigators believe she became angry or impatient with the 2-year-old boy and pushed him hard into a kitchen wall, which fractured his skull, leaving him with brain swelling and hemorrhaging eyes.

The Superior Court judge presiding over the case, took statements from the accused and her father, as well as the toddler’s family. The judge sentenced the 23-year-old to 59-80 months in prison. He reported that decision would not guarantee the health of the boy who was harmed.

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.