Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries are, while often devastating, still a mystery at times for victims and doctors alike. To help create a better way of diagnosing these injuries and predicting their effects, a new study published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior has devised a new way of studying injured brains.
As reported by Fox News, the study used a type of brain imaging known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect abnormalities throughout the brain that are the result of concussions. DTI is used to detect subtle brain damage by measuring diffusion of water in white matter throughout the brain. Abnormal diffusion can be a sign of structural integrity being affected by an injury, thus giving clues to medical professionals concerning how the patient may be affected.
Each traumatic brain injury results in different symptoms and even patients who are hit in the head in the exact same place can experience different symptoms, as was shown by the study. To better understand the effects of a head injury and how DTI may detect damage, the study used 34 mild brain injury victims and 30 injury-free patients, studying them within two weeks of the injury, then at three months, and finally at six months. DTI was able to show the difference in water diffusion between an injured and non-injured brain as well as the difference in diffusion from victim to victim.
Everything from auto accidents to slip and falls can result in a head injury and no two brain injuries are the same. As such, individualized diagnosis and treatment is necessary for victims to overcome their injuries and begin healing properly, something that DTI may be able to help. These injuries can affect a victim’s emotional, mental, and physical capacity for the short-term, long-term, or even permanently.
At Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley, our team of Los Angeles brain injury lawyers understand the complexities of such injuries and the effects they may have on a victim’s personal and professional life. We aim to help our clients find proper compensation when such injuries are caused by another party’s actions that will aid them on the road to recovery. For more information on how we can help you, call us today at (310) 273-1230.
Tags: brain injury study, california brain injury, concussion brain imaging, diagnosing brain injuries, diffusion tensor imaging, los angeles brain injury attorneys, traumatic brain injury lawyer
