There are certain types of head injuries that can cause trauma to the brain with such force that it may result in a fatal injury, or leave the sufferer with some form of brain damage. Closed head brain injuries, often diagnosed as “blunt force trauma” or “shaken baby syndrome” are those types of injuries.
With a closed head type of brain injury, the head is struck by an instrument that does not penetrate the skull, or the head is shaken in such a way that causes the brain to move about the skull in such a violent manner, causing injury. Open head brain injuries, on the other hand, is where an object striking the head penetrates the skull and impacts with the brain, causing damage. The closed head brain injury is the type of brain injury that is considered to be the leading cause of fatal brain trauma in children under four, and accounts for about 75% of an estimated 1.7 million annual brain trauma injuries in the United States. These types of brain injuries range from mild to severe, and can affect the entire brain or only certain portions of it. For more information on closed head brain trauma, see BrainandSpinalCord.org.
The primary causes of closed head brain injuries are auto accidents, slip and falls, assaults where the victim is struck in the head with a blunt instrument, and sports related injuries, to name a few. Slip and fall closed head brain injuries amongst children four years of age and under, and older adults 75 years and older account for about 35% of such injuries, and demographics indicate that boys and men are at a higher risk. Percussion injuries from explosives are also within the category of closed head injuries for veterans returning from war zones.
The following is a list of the certain types of closed head brain trauma that are most common:
A concussion is a closed head brain injury, usually related to sports, and can lead to a temporary dysfunction of the brain in mild cases to brain damage and death in more severe cases.
Intracranial hematoma is a condition caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the brain, resulting in a pooling of blood around the brain or between the brain and the skull. This will lead to serious pressure on the brain. Immediate attention is required for this type of brain injury.
A bruising of brain tissue or cerebral contusion caused by head trauma is similar but different from a concussion in that it is local.
Diffused axonal injury is caused by an injury to the axon of the neuron in the brain. This type of injury is one of the leading causes of unconsciousness, often leading to a persistent vegetative state for the sufferer.
Brain injuries can be mild to severe. The best chances of survival and rehabilitation are achieved by persons suffering brain trauma who receive immediate medical care for their injuries. The rate of recovery is most often dependent upon early detection and treatment of brain trauma.
If you or a loved one has been suffered a brain injury either from the negligence or the intentional acts of another, it is important that you consult with an experienced brain injury attorney, as soon as possible. He will be there for you, and make sure your rights are protected. Please call the law offices of Levin & Perconti at (312) 332-2872 for a free consultation.