Understanding brain contusion injuries
If you have suffered a cerebral contusion or other head injury as a result of an accident, then we can help you obtain the compensation that you deserve. Our lawyers are experienced trial attorneys and they can advise you of your rights to a payout for a traumatic brain injury. Also, if you believe that your cerebral contusion has been misdiagnosed or not treated properly, we can investigate whether you may have a potential medical malpractice claim.
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What is a cerebral contusion?
Damage to the brain itself may produce an intracerebral hematoma or cerebral contusions (also known as a brain contusion). Contusions consist of areas of bruised tissue in which the blood-brain barrier has lost its integrity, creating a heterogeneous region of injured cerebral parenchyma mixed with extravasated blood.
Cerebral contusions occur in approximately 20% to 30% of severe brain injuries but also in a significant percentage of moderate head injuries as well. We often see these types of injuries where there has blunt trauma, but they can also occur in penetrating trauma such as gun shot wounds to the head.
Where blunt trauma has occurred there may be multiple contusions to the head.
Interestingly, contusions often occur in locations remote from the site of impact, often on the opposite side of the brain. Contusions most commonly occur in the frontal and anterior temporal lobes.
CT Scans of the Head and Cranial Contusions
Another interesting factor is that cerebral contusions often take 12-24 hours to appear on radiology CT scans. This means that a victim in an accident who has suffered a cerebral contusion may initially have a normal CT scan of their head. Often the only indication that a contusion may have been suffered is the presence of a depressed Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), with many patients with contusions presenting as moderate head injuries with Glasgow Coma Score of 9-13.
As contusions evolve after injury, they will usually become noticeable on CT Scans as they also can cause increased mass effect through cerebral edema in the injured brain. They can also cause hemorrhage from injured smaller blood vessels, or they may coalesce to form intracranial hemorrhages. This can have serious consequences if not treated appropriately.
It is estimated that in approximately 10% of cases, moderate head injuries can deteriorate quite quickly to severe head injuries. Even very small contusions and hematomas can progressively enlarge and rapidly worsen in patients who have sustained moderate head injuries.
Symptoms of a Brain Contusion
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the contusion in the brain. Generally, they can include:
Weakness
Numbness
Aphasia
Memory difficulties
Cognitive problems
Causes of a Brain Contusion
Falls
Motor accidents
Assaults and other traumas to the head
Medical Malpractice and Head Contusions
Initial CT scan can fail to reveal a contusion that is revealed on subsequent scans. It is important that the treating physician arrange follow-up scans to determine the extent and severity of the condition. Failure to do so may result permanent disability. If you are concerned that your brain contusion has been misdiagnosed and /or there has been an inappropriate delay in treatment or mistreatment, please contact us, as you may be entitled to compensation for medical malpractice.
Need legal advice? Contact us today, as time limits apply in making a compensation claim.
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