Brain Injuries | Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson, LLC

John is a 12 year old boy who was on a ski trip with his family in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This was John's first time to snow ski. He lost control and collided with an electrical control box. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered severe injuries to his brain due to the accident. John was found unconscious and bleeding heavily from the head by a passer-by about 15 minutes after the collision. He regained consciousness and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. His condition was critical and his injuries were life-threatening.

At the hospital, they performed a CT-scan and determined John suffered a depressed open skull fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage and a cortical laceration. He was flown by helicopter to The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado for further treatment.

At The Children's Hospital, John had surgery to stabilize and repair some of his injuries. He had a left frontotemporal craniectomy and the placement of a subdural intracranial pressure monitor. The neurosurgeons were unable to replace the area of bone removed during surgery due to massive swelling of John's brain. After several weeks, the swelling eventually receded and the bone was put back in place.

The exhibit below is a detailed computer representation of John's initial injury and the residual problems following the accident. On the left side of the exhibit you can choose which representation to view, either the initial or residual injury. When you have made your selection, you can then use the slide feature on the right side to further explore the injuries he sustained. Each time you move the slider a new CT-scan slice will be displayed at the bottom right corner, as well as a new image on the computer model of John's head. You may also enlarge a CT-scan slice by clicking on it, and reduce it by clicking on it again.

Click the picture to view a brain injury example. (The exhibit is very detailed and may take a few moments to load.)

Facts and Statistics Regarding Brain Injuries:

In the United States, a person sustains a traumatic brain injury every 23 seconds
1.4 million American sustain a traumatic brain injury each year
An estimated 3.17 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injuries
More than 50,000 people in the United States die every year as a result of a traumatic brain injury

What is a traumatic brain injury?

It is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts brain function. The injury may range from mild, with only short-term problems, to severe, with permanent disabilities.

What are the leading causes of a traumatic brain injury?

Falls
Motor vehicle accidents
Being struck by/against an object
Assaults

What are some symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?

Loss of consciousness
Headache
Confusion
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Fatigue or lethargy
Nausea
Seizure
Slurred speech

*Any suspected brain injury should be treated by a medical profession immediately to stabilize and prevent further injury*

What are the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury?

The CDC estimates that at least 3.17 million people in the US currently have a long-term or lifelong need for daily living assistance as a result of a TBI. People who suffer brain injuries almost always require rehabilitation. Rehabilitation can include everything from simply re-learning everyday tasks and activities to improving memory, managing stress and improving job skills. Brain injuries can cause a wide range of problems, as well as an increased risk for epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Examples of Professional assistance a person may require following a traumatic brain injury:

Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Speech/Language Pathologist
Rehabilitation Nurses
Recreational Therapists
Neuropsychologists

Examples of Long-term care a person may require following a traumatic brain injury:

A rehabilitation hospital
Outpatient therapy
Home health services
Community re-entry programs
Independent living programs
Brain injury support groups (individual and family)
Medication

What to expect after a person suffers a traumatic brain injury:

Cognitive Difficulties - mild to severe; may include problems with alertness, memory loss, reasoning skills, attention and concentration
Behavioral and/or Emotional Difficulties - restlessness and agitation; emotional outbursts and irritability; confabulation; diminished insight; impulsive or socially inappropriate behavior; poor initiative; lack of emotional response; paranoia; depression and/or anxiety