Washington DC Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Archive for April, 2009

D.C. Councilmember-at-large, Phil Mendelson, presents D.C. Council Resolution to Joseph Cammarata & Ira Sherman, Pres. & Vice Pres. of the BIA of D.C.

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

D.C. Councilmember-at-large, Phil Mendelson, presented the Resolution passed by the District of Columbia City Council recognizing the establishment of the Brain Injury Association of D.C. and its affiliation with the Brain Injury Association of America. Councilmember Mendelson made opening remarks recognizing the fact that virtually everyone knows someone who has sustained a traumatic brain injury whether in an automobile accident, or some other tragedy as the result of the carelessness of others. He expressed his gratitude that the District of Columbia now has a Brain Injury Association affiliated with the Brain Injury Association of America as a resource for citizens of the District of Columbia to turn to. Accepting the resolution was President of the Brain Injury Association of D.C., Joseph Cammarata. Mr. Cammarata thanked Councilmember Mendelson for his continuing support of individuals with disabilities arising out of a lack of expected brain function.

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Secondary Injuries- Seizure Disorders

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Another possible secondary injuries as the result of a traumatic injury, and after the primary brain injury has occurred, are seizure disorders. Seizure Disorders: in the medical terms, a seizure is the sudden appearance of convulsions, a disturbance of the senses, or a loss of consciousness. Seizures are often caused by injuries in the temporal or frontal lobes that disrupt the electrical activity of the brain. They can occur immediately after, soon after, or much later after a brain injury. Seizure disorders are usually treated with anticonvulsant drugs.

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Secondary injuries- Increased Intracranial Pressure

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Another secondary injury possible as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is increased intracranial pressure (ICP). ICP occurs because the brain is enclosed within the skull, the fluid formed from swelling or bleeding has nowhere to go. It builds up and causes increased pressure, further damaging brain tissue. The word cranial refers to the cranium, or skull.

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Secondary Injuries- Hydrocephalus

Monday, April 20th, 2009

The next injury possible as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is the flow of fluid from the spinal cord and brain into the cavities, or ventricles, of the brain is sometimes blocked or disrupted after a brain injury. When this happens fluid can build up in the brain and cause increased pressure. This condition is called hydrocephalus, and it can be a serious secondary brain injury. Pressure can be relieved through a procedure that involves inserting a needle into the brain cavities, drawing off the fluid, and routing it through a tube into the abdominal cavity.

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Secondary Injuries- Hypovolemic Shock

Friday, April 17th, 2009

The next type of secondary injury possible as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock is when a person who has had a traumatic brain injury may lose a lot of blood, and that loss can result in damage to brain tissue.

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Secondary Injuries- Hematoma

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

The next possible secondary injury as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is a hematoma. A hematoma is a pool of blood that forms in the body. If the blood vessels in the brain are broken by the impact of a blow to the skull, they may leak, forming a hematoma. A hematoma can cause brain injury by directly damaging nerves or by causing increased pressure in the brain, which also squeezes nerves. The treatment for a hematoma is to surgically drain the blood.

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Secondary Injuries- Brain Swelling

Monday, April 13th, 2009

The second of the secondary injuries possible as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is brain swelling.

Brain Swelling is: The brain, like any other part of the body, swells after severe trauma. Because the brain is encased in the hard, unexpandable skull, however, brain swelling can have more serious effects than swelling in, say, an arm or a leg. In fact swelling is a major cause of damage to the brain after injury. Direct pressure can harm brain cells, or pressure may impair blood flow, cutting off oxygen. If the swelling is extensive it can squeeze the brain stem, disrupting normal life functions and leading to death.

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Secondary Injuries- Anoxia

Friday, April 10th, 2009

The first of the secondary injuries possible as the result of a traumatic injury and after the primary brain injury has occurred, is anoxia.

Anoxia is a lack of oxygen to the brain. Brain cells, like all cells in the body, need a constant supply of oxygen to stay alive. When blood flow to the brain is reduced, the brain no longer receives its supply of fresh oxygen and brain cells die or are severely damaged.

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Traumatic Brain Injury: The Second Stage- Secondary Injury

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

The secondary injury of a traumatic brain injury occurs in the brain and throughout the body after the primary brain injury has happened. Such injuries may include the following:

-Anoxia
-Brain Swelling
-Hematoma
-Hypovolemic Shock
-Hydrocephalus
-Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)
-Seizure Disorders

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Traumatic Brain Injury: The First Stage- Primary Injury

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Each traumatic brain injury has a primary and secondary injury associated with it. The primary injury refers to what happens to the brain and skull at the moment of impact. The effect of this impact is related to the unique structure of the skull and the brain.

The bone of the skull is very hard, while the brain is very soft. When a traumatic brain injury occurs, such as a car crash or a fall, the impact may cause the skull to move very quickly. The brain moves at a different speed because it weighs less than the skull; as a result the brain may hit the bone of the skull, causing bruising and bleeding. Sometimes, the impact can be so severe that the brain bounces back and forth inside the skull, causing very severe bruising and bleeding.

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