Complex Head Injuries
Brain Injury
Brain injury, unlike physical injury, is not always easy to see and thus the impact of such an injury is not necessarily appreciated by others. However, for victims of a head and brain injury, the effects may have a significant effect on the person's ability to function.
In some cases the injury is quite minor with symptoms lasting a few days. However, in the case of minor injury the symptoms may not resolve completely and the individual is left with a range of nuisance symptoms, for example headaches, tiredness, loss of memory or poor concentration.
In other cases, the injury is seen to be very serious from the outset, highlighted by loss of consciousness and a long period of inpatient care. In these cases, the victim may not make a full recovery, but be left with permanent deficits, effecting their entire life. Not only does the individual suffer such injury that they cannot work, but that the domestic lives undergo change. Personality change is common in severe brain injuries, which can lead to behavioural difficulties and breakdown of relationships.
There are two types of head injuries:
- Penetrating or open head injury: These result from penetration of the skull and cause direct damage to the brain. There may be little evidence of external injury to the skull. A common example is glass from a vehicle entering the skull or a tool in the work environment causing a similar injury. The damage to the brain is direct and frequently confined to the area of impact. These sorts of head injuries are quite rare.
- Closed head injury: In the majority of brain injury cases, the injury arises from the brain undergoing acceleration or deceleration. Such events frequently arise from road traffic collisions, falls and assaults. This type of injury is less obvious immediately, but can be just as serious. It is caused by rapid movement of the head and consequent shuddering of the brain. Such sudden action can cause widespread damage. The brain is made up of millions of cells, fluid and blood vessels. When the brain is shaken damage can be done to the delicate fibres and cells within the brain.
After effects of head injuries
Damage from a closed head injury may not be obvious and those closest to you do not immediately see the changes. These can be subtle but can have a devastating effect. It is important not to overlook the brain as the “control room” for the whole body. Injury to different parts of the brain can have a specific impact upon you. For example, the part of the brain at the front of the skull impacts upon the ability to concentrate, think logically and control our emotions. The parts of the brain behind the ears effects personality and our ability to hear and use our memory.
Common after effects of head injuries include:
- A period of memory loss - the longer the memory loss (post traumatic amnesia) the more severe the head injury.
- Personality change, lack of concentration, language skills
- Cognitive (thinking) problems and executive (reasoning and organising) skills.
Recovery
Recovery varies in each case. However, one frequently sees initial rapid improvement over the first few months followed by further but less marked gains thereafter. Very often symptoms do not reach a plateau for about two years.
If you want to enquire about making a claim, please contact a member of our team on 01895 207 835 or 01895 207 295. Alternatively, you can send an email with your name and contact information and brief details as to the nature of the accident/clinical negligence and the injuries sustained to PI@ibblaw.co.uk and one of our team will be able to help you.
