Because of another’s negligence, you suffered a personal injury. Your doctor diagnosed you with a traumatic brain injury, and you want to recover as quickly as possible.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons explains how medical professionals treat TBIs. Understand your options for overcoming your injury and getting back to your day-to-day life.
Non-surgical treatments
Medical professionals use monitoring devices to care for TBI patients. Intracranial pressure devices monitor excessive inflammation. An example of an ICP monitor is a ventriculostomy. The narrow, hollow catheter monitors pressure and drains cerebrospinal fluid.
Your doctor may recommend a fiber-optic catheter, which she or he may place in your brain tissue. Sensors monitor the amount of oxygen the brain uses.
Surgical treatments
If you have a moderate or severe TBI, you could undergo surgery to address pressure on the brain or a blood clot. Depending on the severity of your brain injury, your medical team may recommend waiting before performing surgery. You could have a delayed blood clot, especially if your ICP increases. When doctors discover a lesion, they may want to perform surgery before it grows.
During a TBI procedure, doctors shave your scalp and make an incision. Then, they remove the bone and slice away the outer layer of tissue protecting the brain. After getting rid of the blood clot or bruised brain tissue, doctors seal the incision and your scalp.
Your TBI treatment affects your personal injury claim. When you understand your surgical and non-surgical options, you know how much to seek in damages and what to expect for your recovery.
