DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY

A Diffuse Axonal Injury can be caused by shaking or strong rotation of the head, as with Shaken Baby Syndrome, or by rotational forces, such as with a car accident.

Injury occurs because the unmoving brain lags behind the movement of the skull, causing brain structures to tear.

There is extensive tearing of nerve tissue throughout the brain. This can cause brain chemicals to be released, causing additional injury.

The tearing of the nerve tissue disrupts the brain’s regular communication and chemical processes.

This disturbance in the brain can produce temporary or permanent widespread brain damage, coma, or death.

A person with a diffuse axonal injury could present a variety of functional impairments depending on where the shearing (tears) occurred in the brain.

CONCUSSION

A concussion can be caused by direct blows to the head, gunshot wounds, violent shaking of the head, or force from a whiplash type injury.

Both closed and open head injuries can produce a concussion. A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury.

A concussion is caused when the brain receives trauma from an impact or a sudden momentum or movement change. The blood vessels in the brain may stretch and cranial nerves may be damaged.

A person may or may not experience a brief loss of consciousness (not exceeding 20 minutes). A person may remain conscious, but feel “dazed” or “punch drunk”.

A concussion may or may not show up on a diagnostic imaging test, such as a CAT Scan.

Skull fracture, brain bleeding, or swelling may or may not be present. Therefore, concussion is sometimes defined by exclusion and is considered a complex neurobehavioral syndrome.

A concussion can cause diffuse axonal type injury resulting in permanent or temporary damage.

A blood clot in the brain can occur occasionally and be fatal.

It may take a few months to a few years for a concussion to heal.

COUP-CONTRECOUP INJURY:

Coup-Contrecoup Injury describes contusions that are both at the site of the impact and on the complete opposite side of the brain.

This occurs when the force impacting the head is not only great enough to cause a contusion at the site of impact, but also is able to move the brain and cause it to slam into the opposite side of the skull, which causes the additional contusion.

SECOND IMPACT SYNDROME:

Second Impact Syndrome, also termed "recurrent traumatic brain injury," can occur when a person sustains a second traumatic brain injury before the symptoms of the first traumatic brain injury have healed. The second injury may occur from days to weeks following the first. Loss of consciousness is not required. The second impact is more likely to cause brain swelling and widespread damage.

Because death can occur rapidly, emergency medical treatment is needed as soon as possible.

The long-term effects of recurrent brain injury can be muscle spasms, increased muscle tone, rapidly changing emotions, hallucinations, and difficulty thinking and learning.

Penetrating injury to the brain occurs from the impact of a bullet, knife or other sharp object that forces hair, skin, bone and fragments from the object into the brain.

PENETRATION INJURY:

Objects traveling at a low rate of speed through the skull and brain can ricochet within the skull, which widens the area of damage.

A "through-and-through" injury occurs if an object enters the skull, goes through the brain, and exits the skull. Through-and-through traumatic brain injuries include the effects of penetration injuries, plus additional shearing, stretching and rupture of brain tissue.

The devastating traumatic brain injuries caused by bullet wounds result in a 91% firearm-related death rate overall.

Firearms are the single largest cause of death from traumatic brain injury.

SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME:

Shaken Baby Syndrome is a violent criminal act that causes traumatic brain injury. Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when the perpetrator aggressively shakes a baby or young child. The forceful whiplash-like motion causes the brain to be injured.

Blood vessels between the brain and skull rupture and bleed.

The accumulation of blood causes the brain tissue to compress while the injury causes the brain to swell. This damages the brain cells.

Shaken Baby Syndrome can cause seizures, lifelong disability, coma, and death.

Irritability, changes in eating patterns, tiredness, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, seizures, and vomiting are signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome. A baby experiencing such symptoms needs immediate emergency medical attention.

LOCKED IN SYNDROME:

Locked in Syndrome is a rare neurological condition in which a person cannot physically move any part of the body except the eyes.

The person is conscious and able to think.

Vertical eye movements and eye blinking can be used to communicate with others and operate environmental control.

A Brain Injury Lawyer must establish the causal relationship between symptomology and the negligence of another. The relationship must be established by proof brought forth by medical and scientific experts.

A Brain Injury Lawyer will provide you a Free Consultation.

• They accept no fee until a money recovery is made for you. All fees come from successful case settlements.
• The client never pays an expense or fee unless the case is settled successfully.
• A Personal Injury Lawyer will visit you at Home or in the Hospital.
• They will also initiate an investigation of your case without cost to you.

If you or someone you know are injured, we can help.

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