Westchester County

Published on: December 19, 2011

Things become much more complex in a non-free field or enclosed area, such as a building

by Stephen Bilkis

The type of explosion studied theoretically in the determination of the causes of explosive blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) assumed an open field explosion. Things become much more complex in a non-free field or enclosed area, such as a building, doctors have learned.

In an enclosed space, the shockwaves can reflect from walls, ceilings, and other objects, creating a “complex wave field.” An explosive blast under such conditions creates an individual scenario that cannot accurately be predicted or replicated. Studies in Suffolk and Westchester counties have confirmed this.

Studies have noted there has been the assumption that pressure, and not the shockwave, may cause bTBI, but such studies may not be valid. These studies suggest the pressure of the blast leads to failure of air-filled organs, such as the lungs and the bowels. Therefore, if this is true, lungs should be injured more often in explosions. Clinical experience shows this is not the case. The bowel is generally uninjured unless there is penetration from shrapnel. Brain injury was not studied and some believe interceptor body armor may protect those organs from the blast. There may even be other physical forces that play a role in explosive blast injury.

Published on: October 30, 2011

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

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, doctors in Staten Island and Westchester County have learned, 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 5, 2011

Severe facial trauma can prevent reliable neurological examination

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 New York Brain Injury Lawyers. 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. Hospitals in Suffolk and Westchester Counties are aware of this.

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, New York Brain Injury Lawyers have learned. 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.

Published on: September 28, 2011

State Representative Teacher Breaks up Fight and Ends up with TBI

by Stephen Bilkis

Dewayne Bunch, a Whitley County High School teacher and State Representative, is reportedly improving after sustaining a head injury when trying to break two boys apart during a school cafeteria altercation. According to the public relations and marketing director for Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the 49-year-old’s recovery is going nicely.

The teacher, sustaining serious injuries, was immediately transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center. The then had to be transferred to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Two weeks later, he was again relocated to the intensive care unit at Shepherd Center, a hospital specializing in the treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries where he improved so much that he was able to be moved to the hospital’s rehabilitation unit.

His wife expressed sincere thanks. She was quoted as saying, “I appreciate the outpouring of support and kindness we’ve received from the community. Please continue to keep [my husband] in your prayers as he continues his journey to recovery.”

Published on: September 14, 2011

Florida Father Charged with Child Abuse after Pushing Infant Son

by Stephen Bilkis

A man from Pensacola, Florida, is accused of pushing his 4-month-old son. The violence caused the child to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Bond for the man was set at $150,000.

The 20-year-old father, of the 200 block of Marigold Drive, was charged with three separate counts of aggravated child abuse when he was arrested last week and placed in the Escambia County Jail where he still remains.

The child was brought to a hospital by someone close to him, but the exact details of that are not available at the present time. According to an NYC Brain Injury Lawyer, the Sacred Heart Hospital contacted the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office when it was suspected that the child’s injuries were non-accidental.

Published on: September 10, 2011

Prescribed medication the cause of child’s death

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Brain Injury Lawyer indicated that the health department of the military is rejecting insurance claims for brain injury patients who have had traumatic injuries. They are doing this even though doctors and lawyers across the nation are supporting it.

The agency 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 NYC 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: September 7, 2011

When it comes to preventing head injuries, it is important to focus on traffic accidents

by Stephen Bilkis

When it comes to preventing head injuries, it is important to focus on traffic accidents. New York Brain Injury Lawyers know that most severe head injuries occur in traffic-related incidents. A large aspect of prevention is the control of alcohol. Not only does alcohol contribute to many vehicle crashes, but many medical professionals believe that a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may also reduce the individual’s capacity to survive a crash, especially if a head injury is sustained. Any head injury prevention program must include a discussion on alcohol.

High BAC has consistently been shown to increase the risk of crash involvement, and there are already a number of programs across the United States to curtail drunk driving, from public awareness campaigns, to increasingly harsh criminal sentences for driving while under the influence. The data consistently proves to New York Brain Injury Lawyers that high BAC results in more accidents and more fatalities. Some of the data might even be understated when it comes to drunk drivers killing sober drivers in a crash.

Obviously, the reason why alcohol has such a terrible effect in these cases is due to the way alcohol affects neuronal function. In fact, studies have shown New York Brain Injury Lawyers that it takes very little alcohol for impairment to set in. Different places in the United States still have different levels of tolerance for BAC while driving, however. In New York City and Westchester County, the tolerance is very low.

Published on: June 14, 2011

Injuries caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) can be complicated

by Stephen Bilkis

Injuries caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) can be complicated, New York 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. These studies have helped doctors and hospitals in Westchester County and Suffolk County.

A number of subspecialists are required to help the patient, under the direction of a brain 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, NY Brain Injury Lawyers have discovered.

The force of a flying object and where it penetrates are of utmost importance. 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: June 12, 2011

New York School District Implements Improved Athletic Protocol for Head Injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

A school district in East Syracuse issues new protocol to deal with head injuries in its athletes. The new approach dictated by the East Syracuse Minoa district measures head injuries at every level. The plan is set to be expanded beyond the athletic department.

ES-M has worked for months to create an objective guideline to be used on every student who wears a Spartan uniform. Heedless of sport or level, all participants are to be treated the same when head injuries are suspected.

Brain injuries like concussions are very different from other types of injuries, and this school district’s plan is aimed at eliminating the gray area of treating an injury to the brain, a Manhattan -based Brain Injury Attorney says.