Natasha Richardson May Have Suffered 'Talk and Die' Syndrome

Reportedly, Natasha Richardson suffered a relatively minor fall on the ski slope resulting in severe brain trauma. She fell and struck her head, but did not lose consciousness.  She initially told those at the scene that she was fine but she began to deteriorate within the next hour ultimately going into a coma.

An interesting analysis of her medical condition is contained in a story by Fox News in his interview of Dr. Steven  Flanagan at Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation, in New York City.

According to Dr. Flanagan, Ms. Richardson may have suffered from "talk and die" syndrome which involves a rapid collection of blood — usually called epidural hemorrhage — as a result of bleeding  between the skull and the brain.  This causes an increase in pressure in the brain because there is no where for the blood to go.  The pressure then causes brain damage which requires emergency surgery to relieve the pressure within the skull and brain.

Unfortunately, there is no way of predicting which head injuries will result in this syndrome from developing.  Even relatively minor falls can cause serious brain injuries again reaffirming that all brain injuries must be taken seriously and there is no such thing as a minor brain injury or minor brain trauma.

Read the full story on brain damage caused by falls.