Brain Injury Compensation Claim Lawyers - TBI
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a person has suffered a blow to the head or has suffered an acceleration deceleration injury to the brain. In a traumatic brain injury, the skull can be left intact or can be fractured. Either way surgical treatment of the traumatic brain injury may need to be done in order to save the patient’s life.
Our brain injury compensation claim lawyers deal with applications for awards of damages for personal injury on the basis of miss-diagnosis or negligent treatment by healthcare professionals which can cause a worsening of the initial problem.
In cases where major surgery is not anticipated, a bolt or intracranial pressure monitoring device (ICP) can be surgically placed in the skull to monitor what pressure changes are going on in the brain. In such cases, medications like mannitol are used to decrease the pressure in the skull so no further surgery is needed. The ICP monitor determines whether or not the mannitol is working and if surgical treatment of the traumatic brain injury is needed.
In other cases, a burr hole is placed. A burr hole is a penny-sized hole placed in the area where the bleeding within the skull is located. The blood is allowed to drain out of the hole, thus decreasing the pressure inside the brain. Small hematomas can be surgically removed through the burr hole so the problem is taken care of and pressure is released from the brain cavity.
If there is a lot of pressure on the brain or a large hematoma, doctors must do a craniotomy. A craniotomy is when a larger area of skull is removed after shaving the head. The patient is under general anesthesia during this time. The surgery is performed directly over the site of the bleed. The site of the bleed is determined through the use of an MRI or CT scan that highlight areas of brain injury.
The surgeon drills through the skull and removes a section of skull, keeping it in a saline solution. Damaged blood vessels are sealed off and any hematomas on the surface of the brain are lifted off and removed. Foreign bodies or bone fragments are removed from the surgical site.
After the surgical area of the brain is repaired, then the doctor replaces the bone piece that was removed. If there is a lot of swelling of the brain, the bony piece is allowed to float on the surface of the brain so it can handle the pressure of the brain. If the pressure is not an issue and is under control, the brain piece is sutured back onto the rest of the skull and the skin is closed. In some cases, drains are placed into the brain to allow any further bleeding or fluid to drain through the brain and not build up in the brain.
After surgery, the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit. He or she may need to be on a ventilator and might need to be on a ventilator for quite a while. Often the patient is sedated while on the ventilator to keep them from moving around and to keep them calm. Pain medications are used to control pain. The intracranial pressure is monitored carefully, along with the vital signs and oxygenation level.
Complications that can occur after a craniotomy include having a bad reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, encephalitis or other type of infection because of the craniotomy, swelling of the brain, seizures and permanent brain damage.
Surgery to correct traumatic brain injury can include surgery for penetrating injuries such as gunshot wounds or other penetration of the skull. In such surgery, a craniotomy is performed and pieces of bone or other foreign body are removed. Broken blood vessels are tied off and the brain is cleaned as much as possible to relieve the chances of infection. The bone is repaired as much as possible and the bone piece is sutured back into place.
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Our brain injury compensation claim lawyers deal with legal action for both personal injury using the no win no fee scheme. Compensation is paid in full with no deductions. We do not ask you to fund or finance the claim as it proceeds. If you would like free legal advice with no further obligation just call the helpline, email our offices or use the contact form.