About Traumatic Brain Injury

There are two general classifications of traumatic brain injury:

• Closed head injury: The head injury may appear insignificant, possibly just a bump, blow, or sharp head jerk. But, even in these cases the brain may be jostled enough to cause bleeding or swelling.
• Open head injury: In an open head injury, the brain sustains penetrating trauma.

Epilepsy After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Epilepsy may develop after some traumatic brain injuries. Post-traumatic epilepsy is most likely to occur following an open head injury, but occasionally it can follow a closed head injury. People whose seizures develop some time after the injury have a greater likelihood of developing epilepsy.

Epileptic partial seizures may show up months or years after the head injury. A simple partial seizure is when a small part of the brain experiences a localized, abnormal electrical discharge. Symptoms of a simple partial seizure include smelling a foul odor, seeing flashing lights, feeling tingly, and/or hearing voices.

A complex partial seizure, also called a temporal lobe seizure, will present with a change in level of consciousness, without loss of consciousness. The individual may become disoriented, hear things, behave strangely, grate teeth, fidget, and/or become restless. This can be followed by extreme confusion and limited recall of the episode.

A grand mal seizure, also known as a tonic-clonic seizure, features a loss of consciousness and muscular twitching and jerking. It is the result of abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain. This type of seizure following a head trauma is usually a one-time event rather than a chronic problem.

Statistics on Epilepsy Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Following are some disturbing statistics on the development of epilepsy following a traumatic brain injury diagnosis.

• Someone who has suffered a head trauma is twelve times more likely to suffer seizures than the general population.
• Approximately 60% of individuals who sustained head injury developed epilepsy within the first twelve months following the injury.
• 30% of all individuals suffering head trauma developed post-traumatic seizures. More than 75% of the time the seizures occur within the first 24-months.

Minnesota Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer & Attorney

Brain cells do not regenerate. However, in some cases, other areas of the brain compensate for the injured tissue, rerouting information and function around the damaged areas. Recovery from a traumatic brain injury can be a prolonged or life-long process of treatment and rehabilitation.

It is imperative to retain a traumatic brain injury lawyer with extensive experience in order to receive the necessary compensation to cover current and future medical expenses, as well as lost income and other damages.

TSR Injury Law has handled hundreds of traumatic brain injury cases. We have developed an expertise in this area. Our partners are frequently asked to speak on the topic and Partner Rich Ruohonen has written and published an article on the myths of traumatic brain injury. Call us today at 612-362-0000. We are ready to help you on the road to physical and financial recovery.

Hyperbaric chamber treatments have been used for many years to treat:

• the bends (decompression sickness)
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• gangrene
• thermal burns
• bone infections
• skin grafts
• tissue infections
• wounds that will not heal due to poor circulation

According to the advocate.com, “Dr. Paul Harch, a clinical associate professor with the LSU Interim Public Hospital in New Orleans, presented the cases of 15 military veterans [Iraq] during a meeting of the Eighth World Congress of the International Brain Injury Association in Washington, D.C. The cases all involved veterans who were helped by the treatments. The study shows a 15-point increase in IQ in little more than a month, great reduction in depression, four times the expected improvements in . . . headaches and sleep disturbances, and great improvements in post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The cost of hyberbaric chamber treatments vary greatly according to the facility, as does the number of recommended treatments for optimal cell regeneration. The treatments have been shown to be effective even 2-3 years after the traumatic brain injury.

This information is provided as a service from TSR Injury Lawyers, a leading personal injury law firm serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and the entire state of Minnesota. Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience negotiating and litigating traumatic brain injury cases, including a recent settlement for $600,000. If you would like to speak to a Minnesota Personal Injury Attorney call 612-362-0000 or submit a comment.

For years the league has minimized or denied statistics compiled by others showing a high percentage of former players, who sustained repetitive concussions, suffered some type of brain deterioration. The league finally commissioned a study on concussions and the data revealed that football players as young as 30 were 19 times more likely to be diagnosed with a memory disorder or dementia than the national average. Players over 50 were diagnosed with dementia-related illness at a rate of 5 times the national average.

Professional football players realize that the game is tough and that they may be injured. The players have also trusted that team doctors would accurately assess their ability to play — and bench them if warranted. When a player sustains a knee injury, they are out for weeks. When a player gets a concussion, sometimes they are out only one series of downs.

The brain is in many ways more fragile than other parts of the body. It does not heal like a fracture. All of these studies are showing the cumulative nature of concussions. The treatment of concussions needs to be modified.

News Report on Concussions and Professional Football

There is another study, by Dr. Bennet Omalu, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in which another type of brain injury was identified. Dr. Omalu named it Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Omalu examined the brains of five former professional football players. Repeated concussions and sub-concussions (”build-up” effect from repeated blows to the head) incurred during the play of football over a long period can result in CTE. The brain changes in CTE include scarring of brain tissue, damage to cerebral blood vessels, and torn microfibers.

The bottom line is that professional players have to be more in tune with their health. In younger players, parents need to be more proactive on behalf on their children.

As time goes by, statistics will continue to support that brain injuries occur in contact sport participants and that the injuries can be compounded. What if you add a car accident to an old football injury or vice versa — the effects multiply.

What needs to change? Helmets? Treatment? Rules? Many people do talk about the possibilities that helmets increase the brain damage because they give players a false sense of security. There are new designs in helmets to reduce concussions. The new helmets are expensive and professional teams have not been willing to pay for them until there is more data to support that they really do reduce the number of concussions.

This information is provided as service of TSR Injury Law, a personal injury law firm serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington and the state of Minnesota. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling traumatic brain injury cases. Call 612-362-0000 for more information or contact a Minnesota Brain Injury Lawyer.

• cognitive
• motor
• behavioral
• language
• executive functioning

This information allows for the diagnosis of a cognitive deficit or the confirmation of a diagnosis. This is especially helpful in less obvious cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Neuropsychological evaluation provides essential insight into the psychological functioning of an individual. Modern imaging techniques (MRI, x-ray, etc.) have limited ability to provide insight into the functioning of the brain. The tests performed in a neuropsychological evaluation must be interpreted by a trained, experienced neuropsychologist to be the most beneficial to the patient and to carry the most weight in the courtroom.

Someone with traumatic brain injury may have areas of competence and appear to function normally and still have significant cognitive problems in certain areas of brain function. That is why it is vital to have the testing interpreted accurately and with enough background on the person prior to the injury. The neuropsychologist needs to evaluate:

• educational records
• medical records
• employment records
• diaries
• recreational activities
• interviews with family, friends, and co-workers

All of these factors will help determine the extent of the injury and provide assistance in guiding effective treatment for the rehabilitation of impaired patients. These facts will paint “before” and “after” pictures of the victim. This will have a great impact on the jury, judge, adjuster, or defense counsel.

In a trial, a major duty of the plaintiff’s attorney is to educate the jury about the specialty of neuropsychology — the credentials of the neuropsychologist and the reliability and validity of the testing. That is why it is of utmost importance to hire a law firm with experience and competency in cases involving neuropsychological evaluations.

This information is provided as a service of TSR Injury Law. Our partners are seasoned veterans and will zealously advocate for the victims of TBI from car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, or pedestrian accidents. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.

When the brain is denied oxygen, it triggers two automatic cerebral events in an effort to maintain oxygen supply.

• 1. Following a cerebral anoxic event, of sufficient duration, the neurons are subject to an influx of sodium causing swelling and further injury to the brain. There is also an influx of calcium and the formation of oxygen free radicals. Oxygen free radicals are hyperactive and cause cellular injury by changing the molecular components of the cell.
• 2. The second mechanism that activates automatically, to compensate for lack of oxygen, is cerebral blood flow recirculation. While larger caliber vessels are thought to respond effectively to recirculation, the capillaries and smaller vessels may be so damaged that they are unable to resume normal blood flow resulting in blood pooling and damage to cerebral cortex.

Causes of Cerebral Anoxia

Cerebral anoxia can be caused by any one of these events:

• medical malpractice
• anesthesia errors
• carbon-monoxide poisoning
• smoke inhalation
• near-drowning
• oxygen deprivation during birth (often resulting in cerebral palsy)
• accident with excessive loss of blood

Consequences of Cerebral Anoxia

After a cerebral anoxic event, the brain of the victim is altered. Those alterations are manifested in many ways, including:

• extensive memory loss or disturbances
• changes in personality
• impulsive
• lack of concern
• lack of emotional expression
• irritability
• poor judgment
• decrease in motor coordination
• changes in behavior
• visual spatial deficits
• trouble articulating

Prognosis for Cerebral Anoxia

There can be varying degrees of recovery from cerebral anoxia. The long-term prognosis depends on how long the brain was without oxygen, how extensively the brain cells were damaged, and which area of the brain was most damaged. Even in the best case scenario, there can be permanent psychological and neurological damage. Comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are imperative in cerebral anoxia cases in order to provide the most effective treatment planning and rehabilitation for the patient.

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. We have a proven record of success, with large recoveries and settlements, in complex traumatic brain injury cases. Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, and Rich Ruohonen are skilled, aggressive litigators with years of experience. Call 612-362-0000or submit our free consultation form.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the presence of sound in the head when no external sound is present. Tinnitus can be discontinuous or perpetual, in one ear or both ears. The volume can range from low, annoying tones to high-intensity, disabling noises.

A basic part of hearing is facilitated by the delicate, hair cells in your inner ear called cilia. They are positioned at the turns in the snail-shaped cochlea. The cilia at each turn of the cochlea transmits a separate level of frequency. The cilia move in relation to the pressure of the sound waves, sending electrical signals to the brain. When the cilia get damaged from an airbag deployment, it usually damages all of the hair cells at one turn of the cochlea — so, one entire range of sound is no longer heard.

Instead of creating total deafness, the brain becomes confused by the silence in that range and creates its own noises. The noises are generally described as ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling, or hissing.

Tinnitus Sounds MP3 Downloads

Tinnitus Buzzing (MP3)
Tinnitis Roaring (MP3)
Tinnitis Static (MP3)

Sound Levels

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). They recommend earplugs for 85 decibels and above. Here are a list of noises and their decibels:

• ticking watch – 20 dB
• refrigerator hum – 40 dB
• sewing machine – 60 dB
• rush hour traffic – 90 dB
• blow dryer – 100 dB
• rock concert and thunder – 120 dB
• jackhammer – 130 dB
• AIRBAG DEPLOYING – 160 dB

Complications from Tinnitus

Tinnitus can severely effect the quality of life in these areas:

• Sleep disorders
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Lack of concentration
• Memory issues
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression

Tinnitus Management

There is no cure for tinnitus. Once cilia have been damaged or destroyed they are gone forever. If you have been diagnosed with tinnitus, you will have to learn to manage the frequency and intensity of episodes. People have tried different things to minimize the effects or lessen the severity of tinnitus, including:

• drug therapy
• vitamin therapy
• biofeedback
• hypnosis
• electrical stimulation
• relaxation therapy
• counseling
• tinnitus maskers

Tinnitus maskers are similar to a hearing aid and produce sounds to mask the tinnitus sound. The masking sound works as a distractor, for some people, to minimize the tinnitus sound and make it more tolerable. People tend to prefer an exterior sound over the interior sound of tinnitus. If you suffer from hearing loss, the masker and hearing aid can be combined and work together.

Another way to minimize the tinnitus, is to have a background noise going at all times. Sound machines are available. Other options are:

• fish tank with pump
• fan
• indoor waterfall
• low-volume music

It may also be helpful to join a self-help group. They offers strategies, encouragement, and hope.

This information is a service of TSR Injury Law. We have argued and won many cases of tinnitus. We know how debilitating this condition can be. Our partners will work on your behalf to validate your injury to the insurance company. Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, and Rich Ruohonen are skilled, aggressive litigators with years of experience in personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, and traumatic brain injury. Our attorneys have been named Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law & Politics. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.

• may or may not have a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes – don’t rely on this to exclusively determine a brain injury or whether to seek medical treatment
• headache – the more severe the brain damage the more persistent the headache
• confusion
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• blurred vision or tired eyes
• ringing in the ears
• bad taste in the mouth
• fatigue or lethargy
• a change in sleep patterns
• behavioral or mood changes / personality change
• trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking
• repeated vomiting or nausea
• convulsions or seizures
• an inability to awaken from sleep
• dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
• slurred speech
• weakness or numbness in the extremities
• loss of coordination
• restlessness or agitation
• coma

What to Do if You Suspect TBI

If someone is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, they should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Because little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by trauma, medical personnel try to stabilize an individual with TBI and focus on preventing further injury. Of utmost importance is:

• proper oxygen supply to the brain and the rest of the body
• maintaining adequate blood flow
• controlling blood pressure

Imaging tests can help with diagnosis and prognosis. Imaging that may be recommended:

• skull and neck X-rays to check for bone fractures or spinal instability
• computed tomography (CT) scan for moderate or severe cases –will show location and shape of hemorrhage

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our attorneys are consistently named Super Lawyers by their peers and Chuck Slane has been voted one of the 2008 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys have years of experience with personal injury law, have a stellar reputation, and have secured millions in compensation for our clients. They have proven their expertise in TBI cases with many settlements in the millions. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.

Costs of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The costs associated with traumatic brain injuries are staggering in both economic and emotional ways. Nearly 100% of patients with severe head trauma and almost 70% of those with moderate head trauma will be permanently disabled to some extent and will never return to their full functioning capacity. In the U.S. alone, the direct cost of care for patients with TBI is estimated at more than $25 billion annually – excluding inpatient care.

The relational / interpersonal costs are more difficult to assess, but can be extensive. Very often the patient seems and is a different person with different thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. When the brain has suffered damage, behavior is impacted in these three ways:

• Intellect (information handling of behavior)
• Emotional (feelings and experiential consciousness)
• Control (how behavior is expressed)

Information on Brain Injury Symptoms

Types of Brain Injuries

TBI may be divided into two main categories, closed head injury and penetrating head injury. Brain injuries can then be further broken down into specific classifications:

• Skull Fractures
• Coup and Contrecoup Brain Injuries
• Concussions
• Post-Concussive Syndrome
• Subdural Hematoma
• Cerebral Anoxia
• Shaken Baby Syndrome

This information is provided by TSR Injury Law. Our attorneys are consistently named Super Lawyers by their peers and Chuck Slane has been voted one of the 2008 Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys have years of experience with personal injury law, have a stellar reputation, and have secured millions in compensation for our clients. They have proven their expertise in TBI cases with many settlements in the millions. Call 612-362-0000 or submit our contact form.