Some personal injuries in Hartford, Connecticut, are minor, such as cuts or scrapes, while others are more serious. A serious type of injury is traumatic brain injury, which often needs medical treatment.
Overview of traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injuries are the main cause of disability in the United States, with 80,000 to 90,000 people experiencing long-term effects. A traumatic brain injury occurs from a sharp blow to the head, such as from a fall or an auto accident, damaging the brain. A TBI may classify as primary, which is complete at the impact, or secondary, meaning it develops symptoms after the primary injury.
Some general symptoms of TBI include balance issues, headaches, trouble sleeping, double vision, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, memory issues, and fatigue. An example of a mild TBI is a concussion, which should only cause a brief loss of consciousness or none at all. A more serious traumatic brain injury is hematoma, a blood clot caused by injury to blood vessels that may occur anywhere on the brain.
Diagnosis and treatment
A health care professional will examine the patient and ask about symptoms, and then may conduct a neurological exam to check reflexes and coordination. The Banyan Brain Trauma Indicator examines the brain for proteins that could signal a concussion or other mild TBIs. A CAT scan is often the standard test, which more accurately detects skull fractures and blood needing immediate treatment or surgery.
If the TBI is serious, the patient may undergo immediate surgery to stop the bleeding and the growth of clots. Many mild TBIs only require the patient to rest and they commonly heal on their own within four months. Some patients may undergo counseling to help them cope with the stress or rehabilitation for speech and motor skills.
Even a minor TBI can be life-changing for a patient, so they may pursue damages against negligent parties. However, Connecticut residents only have two years from the injury date to file a claim.
