Brain Injury Lawyer - New York

Boxer Now in Coma

The boxer who sustained a seizure yesterday following ahead injury received in a professional bout is now in a medically induced coma following brain surgery to remove blood that was accumulating within his brain. 

Troubling and filled with lots of double talk is the statement released by the chairman of the California boxing commission who stated, "The injury manifested itself through this fight, but whether or not the true cause for him having the bleeding or having seizures was because of the fight is yet to be determined" then adding, "most such injuries do not stem, specifically from the actual bouts"  Read the full story be clicking here.

EXCUSE ME, boxing is a sport designed to inflict injury on your opponent.  Most troubling is that it is designed to inflict BRAIN INJURY, that's what the prized "knockout" is all about.  The California Boxing Commission has their head in the sand when they make these absurd statements.  Brain damage, seizures and comas, where do they think they are coming from if not from the blows inflicted to the head and the subsequent head injury that takes place during the fight?

Boxer Has Seziure

The relationship between head injury, brain trauma and seizures was tragically shown in Los Angeles last night when a boxer, Reuben Contreras suffered a seizure shortly after his boxing bout at Staples Center was stopped by the ringside referee.  Shortly after the fight was stopped, the boxer began complaining of headaches.  He began having seizures within 5 or 10 minutes following the bout.  You can read the full story by clicking here.  More information about the potential head injuries that can be sustained from boxing can be found by reading my post of May 22.  More information about Seizures and Epilepsy can be found by reading my post of May 16th.

   

The Best Cure For A Brain Injury Is Prevention

A Message to Parents, Brain Injury Lawyers, Neuropsychologists,  Brain Injury Rehabilitation Professionals, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Pediatricians and Any One Else Who Cares About Children Receiving a Brain Injury:

On the beginning of this memorial day holiday, please remember that the best cure for a brain injury is prevention.  A traumatic brain injury is not genetic nor is it contagious , but it is preventable.  On this holiday, as a brain injury professional, SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE, WHEN ENGAGED IN A SPORTING ACTIVITY WEAR A HELMET!

When engaging in bicycle riding, scooter riding, motorcycle riding, skate boarding,  rollerblading, baseball or hockey not only make sure that your child is wearing a helmet, wear a helmet yourself.

If a child is suspected of sustaining a head injury or a brain injury, make sure that they do not return to play without first seeking expert advice.  There is nothing worse then allowing someone who is suspected of having sustained a brain injury or concussion to return to play prematurely.  The consequences of a second impact or a second concussion could be deadly.

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and easily missed.  Not every one develops all symptoms of a concussion and not everyone develops symptoms immediately.  It may take hours, days or weeks for symptoms of a concussion to manifest themselves.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of a concussion include:

Cognitive Symptoms of Concussion, Head or Brain Injury:

• Attention Problems
• Concentration Problems
• Memory Problems
• Orientation Problems

Physical Symptoms of Concussion, Head or Brain Injury:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Uneven Gait
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred Vision
• Seizures

Behavioral Symptoms Following A Concussion, Head or Brain Injury:

• Irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep disturbances

Remember, treat all suspected brain injuries seriously.  There is no such thing as a "mild" brain injury.  Any brain injury is serious and can have life long consequences.  If you have any questions about brain injury, contact your State Brain Injury Association for information and assistance.  In New York State, the Brain Injury Association of New York State can be reached at www.bianys.org The Brain Injury Association of America can be reached at www.biausa.org

 

Loss of Taste and Smell: A Frequently Overlooked Injury Following Traumatic Brain Damge

A frequent but often overlooked complication in brain injury cases is the loss of the sense of taste and smell, a condition known as Anosmia.

Following head trauma, the cranial nerve (olfactory nerve) which transmits impulses for the taste of sense and smell to the brain is frequently damaged.  This nerve's position in the skull makes it especially susceptible to brain trauma.  However, brain injury lawyers should be aware that this nerve is rarely if ever tested in the general neurological examination performed in a hospital emergency room. Unfortunately, many personal injury lawyers do not give much thought to the devastating consequences that this injury has on the quality of life of their clients as well as safety issues pertaining to this loss.

An interesting article in this week's New York Times, Food Section of May 18th discusses the importance of the sense of taste and smell from the perspective of a victim of a truck accident who suffered a fractured skull. The article can be obtained at the New York Times web site.  Further information on anosmia can be obtain from the Anosmia Foundation.

Brain Circuit Responsible for Decision Making Behavior Found

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have been able to pinpoint a circuit in the brain responsible for encoding decision making information.  When brain trauma causes damage to this circuit, a person cannot alter their behavior when circumstances change.

The circuit is located in the orbital frontal cortex of the brain, behind the eyes.  When this area of the brain is damaged, a person is still able to learn new information but they cannot change their behavior. 

The study is useful to brain injury lawyers to explain why some individuals with a traumatic brain injury behave they way they do.  The individual may be sluggish and inflexible in their behavior, something that is often seen following traumatic brain damage.  Read the full press release about this study by clicking here.

New Program Being Developed to Assist Students With Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injuries

I am pleased to announce that the Brain Injury Association of New York State has been selected and approved by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Council to establish a statewide start up program designed to provide technical assistance, intervention planning and support for students with an acquired or traumatic brain injury.

The goal of the program is to create and sustain competency for families and school staff to respond to the challenges of children with brain injuries both at home and at school.  Information and resource material will be developed and distributed by the association.  Advisory groups of parents, educators and heath care professionals are also planned.  Further information about this exciting program can be obtained through the association's executive director, Judith Avner.

The developmental disabilities council in awarding this grant to the Brain Injury Association stated that they believe that this "initiative has the potential to substantially improve the level of education and community inclusion for students with acquired/traumatic brain injury, as well as the overall quality of services received from school districts for these students."

Follow Up Brain Injury in Boxing

As a followup to my earlier post today on head injury in boxing, click here to review an interesting bibliography collecting articles on traumatic brain injury sustained while boxing.

Women Boxers Face Increased Dangers of Brain Injury

An interesting article in today's New York Times on the dangers  of brain injury and permanent brain damage that women face when engaged in competitive boxing.

The article suggests that the rapid growth of women in competitive boxing following the movie "Million Dollar Baby" comes with increased risk of serious brain injury since they may not have had sufficient training and experience in learning how to avoid blows to the head. Female boxers are progressing through the ranks of novice to professional fighter without sufficient experience and training.

Of course inflicting head injury is the aim of boxing.  The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Pediatrics of all called for a ban on boxing because of the serious risk of head injury and permanent brain damage.

The cumulative effect of receiving numerous blows to the head can result in permanent and significant brain damage. 

It bears repeating that "an athlete who has persistent neurological symptoms should not b e allowed to participate until there are no symptoms with and without exertion...Those responsible for the safety of the athlete must remain cognizant that in a small percentage of boxers, seemingly trivial blows during a contest or later minor concussive symptoms can result in catastrophic outcomes."  You can read the entire story by clicking here.

Children With Seizure Disorders At Increased Risk for Learning, Memory and Behavior Problems

An article in the April 2005 issue of Epilepsy USA , published by the Epilepsy Foundation of America reports on findings announced at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Association concerning the long term prognosis for children who have developed seizure disorders.  Because the brain's of children are still developing, seizures in early life, particularly prolonged and recurrent seizures can impact the brain in a long term fashion. 

The researchers found that early life seizures alter neurotransmitter development, which ultimately makes a child more susceptible to developing epilepsy and can also hinder a child's ability to learn, their memory and their behavior.   

Traumatic Brain Injury and The War In Iraq: New Article and Editorial in New England Journal Of Medicine

"Traumatic Brain Injury in the War Zone" is a new article in this week's New England Journal of Medicine together with an important editorial on providing the "best long term care for the survivors" of brain trauma. I have reported on other traumatic brain injury studies on returning war veterans (see posts of March 5, 2005 and January 26, 2005)

The article in this prestigious journal describes the many different ways that soldiers in Iraq are receiving brain injuries and the alarming statistics concerning the rate of brain injury in returning veterans.  The authors suggest that upward of 22% of all combat related injuries in Iraq are related to brain and head trauma.  This statistic under reports the magnitude of this epidemic because as the army concedes, many cases of closed brain injury are not promptly (or properly) diagnosed.

The mechanism of closed head brain damage, the troubling symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the difficulties in the rehabilitation of soldiers who have experienced a closed head brain injury and future outcome following TBI are also discussed.

Hopefully this article will be a call to action to the United States Congress to devote the necessary funding to provide services and support to persons with a brain injury and their families as well as to reauthorize with appropriate levels of funding the TBI Act.