A new study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma examined the lifetime traumatic injury and cognitive domain deficits following traumatic brain injury. Most interesting for those representing clients who sustained mild traumatic brain injuries is that the number of prior mild traumatic brain injuries and the role they play in affecting one’s cognitive abilities.
Continue Reading Multiple Concussions Result in Greater Cognitive DeficitsSport-Related Concussion in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review
It’s not surprising that the effects of traumatic brain injury on men and women are different. A new study published in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine well documents these differences. Researchers at Tulane School of Medicine designed a study to determine the factors that predispose female athletes to more severe concussions than their male counterparts. The researchers performed a systematic review of the literature, finding 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria that examined the effects of concussive and sub-concussive head impacts in female athletes of all ages, regardless of competition level. These studies were further supplemented with epidemiologic studies. Exclusion criteria included narrative reviews, single case reports, abstracts and letters to the editor as well as studies related to chronic traumatic brain injury. The study found that female athletes appear to sustain more severe concussions than male athletes due in part to a lower biomechanical threshold tolerance for head impacts. Additionally, it was believed that concussions could alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, resulting in worse symptoms and amenorrhea.
The researchers concluded:
This systemic review demonstrates that female athletes may be more susceptible to concussion, have prolonged symptoms after concussion, and are more likely to report a concussion than their male counterparts. However, underreporting still exists among female athletes. Possible factors that put female athletes at a higher risk for concussions include biomechanical differences and hormonal differences.
The citation for the study is Sport-Related Concussion in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review. Neil K. McGroarty, Symone M. Brown, and Mary K. Mulcahey. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 2020 8:7
Head Injury and All-Cause Mortality in Community-Dwelling Adults
I have often written about the increased risk that individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury for suffering further neurologic injury, disease or disorder. A new study published in JAMA Neurology once again highlights the increased risk among individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. The study is entitled, “Head Injury and Long-term Mortality Risk in Community-Dwelling Adults” and is published in JAMA Neurology.
Continue Reading Head Injury and All-Cause Mortality in Community-Dwelling AdultsAnother Favorable DTI Decision
Another favorable DTI decision has been made in Meadors v. D’Agostino, a case from the United States District Court, Middle District of Louisiana (October 29, 2020). This case arose out of a car crash where the plaintiff was struck by an 18-wheeler. Because of the crash, plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury among other injuries. In support of his damage claim, plaintiff sought the care of a neurologist and neuropsychologist. Plaintiff was diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome marked by memory and attention lapses. Continue Reading Another Favorable DTI Decision
Federal Court Upholds Admissibility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Testimony
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York provided another victory for the admissibility of diffusion tensor imaging.
Continue Reading Federal Court Upholds Admissibility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Testimony
Outcomes in Patients With Mild TBI Without Acute Intracranial Traumatic Injury
A new study was recently released by the researchers involved with Track-TBI. The Track-TBI studies involve patients with traumatic brain injury who have been seen at 18 Level I trauma centers in the United States from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018.
Continue Reading Outcomes in Patients With Mild TBI Without Acute Intracranial Traumatic Injury
Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome in Children After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
In defending pediatric traumatic brain injury cases, defense experts often allege that the pediatric TBI survivor did not sustain any permanent injuries based on the antiquated philosophy that due to neuroplasticity children’s brains heal themselves. This misguided opinion was debunked in a recent study from Israel where researchers sought to evaluate the prevalence of persistent post-concussion syndrome in children 6-60 months after a mild traumatic brain injury. The authors noted the prevalence of persistent post-concussion syndrome among children was not well known.
Continue Reading Persistent Post Concussive Syndrome in Children After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Study Finds Long-Lasting Symptoms from Traumatic Brain Injuries
It’s an all-too-common assumption that the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) last only three to six months, and this misunderstanding can make it more difficult to claim the compensation you’re entitled to after experiencing a TBI.
However, a recent study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found persistent and ongoing symptoms in individuals who suffered a TBI—in many cases, these symptoms were present a full year after their accidents. Continue Reading Study Finds Long-Lasting Symptoms from Traumatic Brain Injuries
State Rulings Uphold the Use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Cases Involving Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you’ve suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) as the result of an accident, you may be required to provide evidence of this injury in order to collect the insurance payments needed for medical care or pursue the compensation you’re entitled to through personal injury lawsuits.
mTBI and Parkinson’s Disease
It has been known for some time there is an increased risk of neurologic decline following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). A new study published in PLOS ONE adds further proof. In a recent study, epidemiologists reported a 56% increased risk of veterans with mild traumatic brain injury developing Parkinson’s disease within 12 years post-injury. According to the researchers, “the goal of the study was to obtain evidence for premature cognitive decline in young veterans with a positive mTBI by comparing their cognitive scores against veterans without mTBI, healthy non-veteran controls and older early-stage, non-demented subjects with Parkinson’s disease.”