New evidence shows brain trauma healing rates in children may not be predictable.
There is good news and bad news on the horizon for child victims of brain trauma. The bad news is recent studies suggest it is difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy how well the children will do in the long term, despite a higher survival rate.
Over the years, medical technology has improved so that children who sustain brain trauma now have a higher survival rate. The difficulty is no one is able to predict how they will fare in later years. Brain injuries in kids are very complex to monitor, as their brains are still in the process of growing and forming. Protecting them from further accidents and infections is a major priority.
The latest research, published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, suggests the age of the child when injured may play a major role in recovery and that the common belief that younger brains are more elastic does not appear to be the case. What is painfully evident is that there is not enough information to formulate any solid theories about how to care for children with brain trauma or how to determine when and if to stop medical care.
The major issue when dealing with traumatic brain injuries in children appears to be what psychological issues they may sustain that do not manifest until later. When their motor skills recuperate, it may mask their psychological issues, largely because an injury at an early age may radically alter how the brain develops. While the recovery of motor skills is a cause for celebration, no one may notice the cognitive difficulties until further down the road.
The ongoing research into traumatic brain injury is encouraging in that it has the potential to open doors for adults and children. The good news is that there is more research into how head trauma affects children, as they are among the growing numbers of victims with brain injuries. Most children play a number of sports, such as hockey, football, soccer and volleyball. Each one of those sports has the potential for injury to occur.
One only has to look at the most recent lawsuits against the National Football League to know how playing football results in brain trauma or read about the suicides of sports figures whose constant exposure to concussions affected their ability to think normally. The world is not what it once was, and we need to look out for the younger crowd, as well as continue to make advances in medical science to treat head traumas in adults.
Head injuries are not just caused by playing sports. Many times a fall or an accident will result in brain damage. If that is the case, and you have been injured in an accident, seek the skills of an Austin personal injury lawyer who is familiar with handling head injury cases. He or she will know about the long-term effects of such an injury. Damages may be higher in traumatic brain injury cases. Speak to an Austin personal injury lawyer to find out what your rights are, and what to expect if you file a lawsuit.
Brooks Schuelke is an Austin personal injury attorney with Perlmutter & Schuelke LLP. Contact an Austin injury lawyer at Civtrial.com or (512) 476-4944.
