A brain injury only takes a moment to develop but can lead to a lifetime of lasting consequences. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions, can affect someone’s motor function and sensory perception. They can even change someone’s personality. In extreme cases, a TBI could leave someone dependent on life support or in need of skilled nursing assistance in their own home.
Brain injuries often lead to years of reduced earning potential and massive medical expenses. The symptoms someone experiences determine if they can eventually go back to work and the medical treatment they require. Their care will be highly individualized, but most people with TBIs require the same basic types of medical care after their diagnosis.
Emergency surgery
The first line of defense against a TBI continuing to worsen after the initial trauma is often a surgical procedure. In cases involving damage to the skull or penetrating injuries, surgery will be necessary to remove foreign objects. Other times, the surgery will involve alleviating pressure on the brain inside of the skull caused by swelling or bruising of the brain itself.
Inpatient hospital care
It is quite common for those who have a moderate to severe brain injury to require around-the-clock medical treatment and observation in the early days after their injury. Nurses and other professionals can monitor their heart rates, check them for signs of infection and ensure they take the necessary medications. In some cases, medical professionals even decide to put someone into a medically-induced coma to prevent them from suffering needlessly and improve their chances of a total recovery.
Rehabilitation services
Physical therapy and occupational therapy are both examples of rehabilitative services that can help someone with a TBI. People may need to relearn how to perform certain functions in order to recover lost functions after a TBI. They may also require physical therapy to learn how to adjust certain daily or work-related activities based on the symptoms they present.
The total costs of such care can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Understanding the medical requirements for an optimal outcome after suffering a TBI may help an injured party or their loved ones make the right choices related to seeking compensation in the event that their harm was caused by another’s actions or inactions.