New Blood Test Could Help In Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur in a variety of different accidents. They are one of the most common and potentially serious types of personal injuries, but symptoms often appear subtle at first, causing victims to not get the medical care they need. While getting a TBI diagnosis has proved challenging in the past, a new blood test could help in diagnosing traumatic brain injuries.
TBI One of The Most Common Types of Personal Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI claims the lives of roughly 150 people each day in the United States and leaves thousands of other victims suffering potentially permanent impairments. Car, bike, and pedestrian accidents and slips/falls are among the most common causes.
TBI can result from any type of bump, blow, or sudden jolt to the head, which causes a disruption in the neural pathways. Symptoms of TBI are often subtle at first and include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and lack of coordination. These can be easily overlooked and may not appear for days or even weeks after an accident. As a result, victims may not get the immediate medical care they need, putting both their health and their right to compensation in a personal injury claim at risk. Long-term impacts that can end up resulting from TBI include:
● Physical impairments, such as difficulty walking, maintaining balance, or performing motor tasks
● Sensory impairments, which can impact vision and hearing
● Communications issues, in which victims have difficulty communicating or understanding what is being said
● Memory impairments and developmental disorders, impacting their ability to provide for themselves
● Emotional problems, including depression, anxiety, anger, and increased isolation or flying into fits of rage
Diagnosing Traumatic Brain Injuries
As immediate symptoms of traumatic brain injuries are subtle, victims often fail to seek medical treatment. Even when they do, diagnosing TBI can prove difficult. Generally, medical providers rely on questionnaires, in which victims are responsible for self-reporting symptoms. This causes many cases to fall through the cracks, but a new test hopes to change that.
On January 11, 2021 ABC News reported that a U.S. medical device company received authorization to begin using a new blood test to diagnose TBI. It relies on a hand-held device, which draws a small amount of blood and analyzes it for signatures often found in TBI patients. Administered by medical professionals in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices, it can indicate whether further testing, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanning, should be ordered to get a better assessment of the injury. This could potentially help save the lives of TBI victims by ensuring they get the medical treatment they need.
Our Aiken Personal Injury Attorney Is Here To Help You
This new blood test could help in diagnosing traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries can impact every area of your life. At the Surasky Law Firm, we help victims and their families get the compensation they are entitled to in a claim. Contact our Aiken personal injury attorney online and request a consultation today.
