Leandra’s Law: One Year Later
In the event of a traumatic brain injury, it’s critical to receive immediate care from a qualified medical professional. Not only does this promote timely stabilization of your injury, but it also increases the likelihood of making a full recovery. While not always required, emergency surgery is often necessary to treat a traumatic brain injury. For example, if you suffer a mild concussion, your doctor won’t suggest a surgical procedure, as rest is the best way to make a full recovery. Conversely, there are times when surgery is required, such as in the following situations:
- Serious skull fracture: Not every skull fracture requires emergency surgery, but it’s often necessary if the bone fragments have the potential to damage healthy tissue.
- To remove a blood clot or stop bleeding: Bleeding in the brain can cause a variety of health concerns, such as damaging brain tissue and excessive pressure within the skull. If this problem isn’t addressed quickly, it can result in irreversible brain damage and even death.
- To relieve pressure in the skull: A traumatic brain injury can cause pressure to build up in the skull, typically related to excessive fluid. Your medical team may need to insert a drain or shunt to remove the fluid as a means of reducing pressure.
While surgery is often a big part of emergency care after a traumatic brain injury, it’s not the only thing your doctor will focus on. Overall, their primary goal is to stabilize your condition, such as by controlling your blood pressure and ensuring that your brain receives enough oxygen. Once you’re stable, you’ll consult with multiple members of your medical team to decide what comes next. For example, you may not have required emergency surgery, but you may still need a procedure in the future to repair damage. A traumatic brain injury is an emergency, so you should treat it as such. For example, if you suffer an injury in a car accident, call 911 to request an ambulance. This allows you to receive treatment from paramedics on your way to a local hospital. As your health allows, contact your insurance agent and consider other steps for obtaining compensation related to your traumatic brain injury and other damages.