Traumatic Brain Injury May Progress to Vegetative Coma

With the rising car crash statistics across the nation, it's no
small wonder the numbers of traumatic brain injuries are also on the
increase. Traumatic brain injury patients are at higher risk to slip
into a vegetative coma.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are also called contrecoup brain
injuries that, in a nutshell, means "A specific area of brain injury
located directly opposite to the site of impact to the head that
results from linear violent collisions of the brain with the skull."
While many TBIs appear to be just fine after their accident (e.g.
Natasha Richardson), they rapidly develop a variety of symptoms that
may include headache, nausea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred
vision, and problems concentrating.

While a TBI may be classified as mild to severe, even a mild form of
TBI may have life altering and long-term consequences. Mild brain
injuries usually wind up with the patient either briefly losing
consciousness or not, and then feeling dazed and confused later.
Moderate brain injuries may last for mere minutes or hours, with the
resulting confusion hanging on for weeks or months. The length of time
for cognitive impairment may range from months to permanently.

A diagnosis of severe TBI has the potential to last months to years
with the patient being unconscious the whole period of time. In these
particular cases, the patient runs a very high risk of slipping into
what is called a "vegetative state" or "locked in" syndrome. In most
instances such as this, impairment, even if there is recovery, is
permanent.

TBI cases are touch and go and leave doctors without many options to
handle this kind of injury. Treatment mainly consists of stabilizing
the patient to prevent further injury and making sure the brain is
properly oxygenated, keeping consistent blood flow and controlling the
fluctuating blood pressure.

Depending on the cause of the accident that resulted in a TBI, the
patient or a representative on behalf of the patient, may be able to
file a personal injury lawsuit. If you or a loved one faces something
like this, speak to a highly skilled medical malpractice lawyer to
obtain compensation.

Christopher Mellino is a Cleveland Malpractice Lawyer specializing
in Cleveland Medical Malpractice cases in Ohio. To learn more about Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland malpractice lawyer, Cleveland medical malpractice, Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, visit Christophermellino.com.