Brain injuries and their outcomes

Missouri residents who have suffered brain traumas may now be able to receive more appropriate care due to an innovative diagnostic tool that identifies a specific protein in the brain. After tracking three proteins that play a significant role in cellular activity in the cerebrum, one example showed a marked decrease in patients who sustained head injuries.

After studying the blood levels of a protein identified as brain-derived neurotrophic factor in people who sustained head trauma, researchers found that the protein’s levels generally fell within 24 hours after the accidents occurred. Patients who suffered moderate cerebral injuries typically showed a 30 percent decrease in levels when compared to a control group, and people with severe involvement showed rates that dropped as much as 90 percent.

As hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers adopt the new blood test as a part of their head trauma protocols, physicians and other medical personnel may be able to better assign more appropriate care relative to the severity of trauma identified by the test. Using the test while following patients during the recovery period may prove to be a good indicator of progress. Developing effective ways of restoring the protein post-trauma may also be enhanced by utilizing the test to track increases.

People who have sustained brain injuries in an accident or other mishap due to the negligence of other parties may be able to receive compensation for their losses. A personal injury lawyer may be able to begin negotiations in order to reach a settlement or file a lawsuit on the victim’s behalf. Damages typically sought can include lost wages, hospital bills and other related long-term medical expenses.