Catastrophic Injury

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can vary greatly in type and severity. Concussions are the most common type of brain injury and also possess their respective degrees of severity and effects. Concussions result from a non-penetrating blow or impact to the skull. The brain can collide with the inside surface of the skull or can compress and expand rapidly, resulting in bruising, contusions, bleeding, and injuries on a cellular level.

Concussions can be mild, moderate, or severe, generally judged by symptoms. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a disorder in which a combination of varying symptoms (such as dizziness or headaches) persists for weeks or months beyond the initial injury. PCS is generally the designation medical professionals give to post concussion symptoms that last beyond the initial days following the injury. Not all people who experience a concussion will suffer from post-concussion syndrome.

Post-Concussion Syndrome – Diagnosis and Symptoms

PCS is a generalized condition and experienced differently from patient to patient. Studies have revealed that patients who have a previous history of head trauma, young patients, or those with a known history of headaches or migraines are more susceptible to experiencing PCS symptoms.

Diagnosing post-concussion syndrome is difficult, as there is no definitive test for the condition. Diagnosis is loosely based on the patient’s history of previous TBI and claims of ongoing symptoms. A doctor will typically conduct a physical exam and a neurological exam, and may also order an imaging test such as a CT scan or MRI to rule out other causes of symptoms such as infection, poisoning, or bleeding in the brain.

For most concussion patients, PCS symptoms begin within the first seven to 10 days and fade away within six to nine weeks, though there have been cases of symptoms persisting for three to six months. In a few rare instances, PCS symptoms did not dissipate until 11 to 12 months had passed. Symptoms of PCS can be non-specific and commonly include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Problems with Sleeping
• Mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety
• Difficulty with cognition and memory

PCS symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with work, especially for jobs requiring hours of computer screen time or jobs requiring the operation of heavy machinery.

Treatment Options for PCS

Most PCS treatment is geared toward alleviating symptoms. The majority of patients who experience PCS are able to recover with plenty of rest in a low stress environment. The treating physician or neurologist may also prescribe migraine or pain medications and treat psychological symptoms with a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy. Additional non-medicinal treatments, such a Matrix Repatterning, may help to shorten the duration of PCS symptoms.

Symptoms do fade with time, but the patient must take steps to reduce the stress from his/her daily environment and dedicated consistent time to resting, sleeping, and avoiding noise. Patients with a history of head injuries may wish to plan in advance and make adjustments in anticipation of PCS if he/she happens to experience another concussion. Multiple-concussion patients are more susceptible, so even a recurrence of a very mild concussion could trigger a period of considerable PCS symptoms.

Concussion baseline testing is a newer, proactive concussion management tool available to athletes and sports-training personnel. In an era of increased brain injury awareness and new evidence of the long-term dangers of concussions, the administration of a baseline concussion test can be an important step toward effective head injury management.

The 3 Parts of a Baseline Concussion Test

Many healthcare professionals, head trauma specialists, and sports training organizations offer comprehensive programs for concussion baseline testing:

1. The test takes approximately 30-45 minutes to administer for each player. Testing will always be conducted before a sports season begins, preferably right before the very first practice.
2. Testing is typically administered online, although options for written paper testing also exist. Basic coordination, cognition, and mental processing exercises and questions are administered to create a pre-season baseline assessment of each athlete’s brain functions including:
   1. Reaction Time
   2. Learning
   3. Memory
   4. Ability to Concentrate
   5. Problem Solving

Results from the pre-season examination are set as a control or baseline. The initial baseline test may also be able to detect any suspected presence of existing brain injury symptoms. Test results are typically computerized assessments which are stored and analyzed for future reference.

While the concussion baseline test can be used for all ages, some of the assessment exercises are only intended for athletes ages 10 and above due to basic skill level needed to answer the questions.

How Concussion Baseline Testing is Used

If any player is suspected of suffering a concussion, a post-injury test session can be administered. An examination, similar to the baseline test, will be given to the athlete and the outcome can be analyzed against the baseline to give healthcare professionals detailed insight into areas of the brain that may be injured. Without an existing baseline serving as a control, post-injury tests can only be compared with average results of the general public. Individualized results provide a much more detailed look into that individual’s own specific condition. Treatment can begin immediately upon analysis of post-injury test results.

Making Baseline Testing Effective

Only trained healthcare professionals should administer concussion baseline tests. Furthermore, only those specifically trained in concussion management should interpret results and offer treatment recommendations. Many testing programs are offered by professional sports training organizations who team up with or directly employ healthcare professionals and concussion specialists.

At minimum, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that baseline testing should be re-administered every 2 years. For athletes who experience a concussion or head injury, on or off the field of play, more frequent testing is highly recommended in order to re-establish accurate baselines and to closely monitor the player for changes in his/her condition or recurring symptoms of injury. This testing can also serve as an early warning tool to detect long-term signs of more severe forms of damage stemming from previous concussions.

Head Injuries are referred to clinically as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), occurring when an outside force acts causes temporary or long term damage to the brain. The force can be direct, such as a punch, blow from an object or hard surface impacting the head. The force can also result from whipping or torqueing, commonly seen in diagnoses of shaken baby syndrome.

In cases of concussions, also classified as closed head injuries, an external force creates a collision between the brain and the inside surface of the skull. The brain can compress and expand, behaving almost like a rubbery sponge. In examples of open head injuries, the skull is penetrated or severely crushed by an object such as a bullet. The object penetrates the skull and damages the brain across its path of travel.

Recognizing the 14 Signs of a Head Injury

Immediately following an accident or collision, a head injury victim may begin to show symptoms of damage to the brain. In cases of concussions, symptoms may worsen, persist or resurface if not recognized and treated properly at first onset.

Effectively managing head injuries and obtaining the necessary treatment can depend on the swift recognition of 14 types of symptoms:

• Any loss of consciousness
• Appearing confused or disoriented
• Short or long term memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness, trouble with basic balance
• Nausea / vomiting
• Sensory issues
• Sensitivity to light or sounds, frequent headaches
• Feeling anxious or depressed, mood swings
• Trouble Sleeping, sleeping longer or more frequently than usual
• Convulsions or seizure
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Loss of coordination
• Clear fluid leaking from the ears or nose

7 Common Causes of a Head Injury

• Auto Accident
• Slip and Fall, Fall from Heights
• Sports Accident
• Violence / Assault
• Domestic / Child Abuse
• Falling Objects
• Bicycling Accident / Fall

Treat all Potential Head Injuries Serious and Expeditiously

Parents should always seek medical care in any suspected cases of a blow to their child’s head. A simple fall in the street or at home is enough to cause a concussion. A doctor’s basic office screening will help to detect any evidence of brain injury.

Adults should seek emergency medical care if any of the 14 common symptoms described above occur after a head injury. Most adults know their bodies and habits well enough to detect a slight imbalance. Even experiencing the mildest symptoms following a blow to the head, such as an increased desire to sleep or headaches, needs to be taken seriously and is suitable cause for medical evaluation. At times, a patient’s own recognition of warning signs can be the best indication that medical attention is required.

As more people become aware of the dangers and long-term effects of concussions and other head injuries, more are seeking treatment. An early intervention and treatment plan is important to beginning recovery and restoration of quality of life. Undiagnosed head injuries have the potential to worsen and have a major impact on a person’s life. Early diagnosis and treatment is a patient’s best bet against enduring any unnecessary hardships or complications.

A woman was seriously injured as her car caught fire in a car accident where a man ran a stop sign, then got out and fled the scene on foot, according to a Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office release.

Anne Fanning was driving a 2003 Mazda eastbound on the Brandon Parkway Extension at around 40 mph on July 27 at around 11:28 p.m., the release shows. Donald Ward, who was driving a 2007 GMC Envoy southbound on Providence Road at around 45 mph, ran a stop sign, crossed the westbound lanes, struck the raised median and struck Fanning’s Mazda in her driver’s door with the front of the Envoy.

While Ward fled the scene of the accident on foot, Fanning was stuck behind the wheel with critical internal injuries as the back of the vehicle caught fire, a Tampa Bay Times article shows. Deputies used six fire extinguishers to keep the fire from spreading to the cab until firefighters arrived at the scene.

A deputy and a tracking dog along with Air Service arrived to search for Ward. The dog called K9 Deuce tracked him to a retention pond surrounded by thick brush, but the dog was unable to find his exact location. However, a pilot located him at the edge of the pond, hiding under the brush and vines, then guided the tracking dog to the location. K9 Deuce bit down on his hand, but was unable to hold onto him. Ward swam under water to the middle of the pond, but quickly surrendered when he surfaced.

Ward was treated for minor injuries to his hand, arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injury, and later released on $2,000 bail. Deputies said he smelled of alcohol, but refused to submit to any field sobriety tests. Blood alcohol content and further charges are pending toxicology results.