San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A study in the Emergency Medicine Journal substantiates the fact that there is a significant impact on children who sustain whiplash injuries. There has been a long standing debate among different medical practitioners as to the affects and consequences of these injuries on children. This controversy was due to many factors, but most prominently the lack of any significant studies on these types of injuries in children. In the past, cases involving whiplash injuries in children were overlooked in part because children either lack the ability to effectively communicate their problems or do not appreciate the nature and extent of their injuries. This lack of attention would often result in them not receiving the medical attention they needed and in some cases would result in long lasting consequences. These types of spine injuries can result from a number of different types of incidents, but in many instances are caused by auto accidents.

The study by Boyd, Massey, Duane & Yates entitled Whiplash associated disorder in children attending the emergency department followed 105 children who had been involved in auto accidents during an eight-month-period. The subjects, ages four to sixteen, had data collected at 5, 14,28, and 56 days after their auto accidents. Nine of them complained of pain on motion on physical exam, 47% showed pain on motion but no pain on physical exam. 60% of the subjects with whiplash injuries reported pain immediately after the crash, with 40% reporting the onset of symptoms the following day. Those who sustained even minor whiplash injuries were symptomatic for 2-18 days, and those with more significant injuries 2-62 days. This does not even address the psychological trauma as the study reveals "Recent work has shown that children are susceptible to and do experience significant psychological trauma after being involved in a car crash."

Parents and adults should take action when a child has sustained a whiplash or other spine injury. Auto accidents, bicycle accidents, or slip and fall accidents can result in significant spine injuries or brain injuries. If your child or someone you know has sustained a serious whiplash or other injury, seek immediate medial attention and talk to an experienced personal injury attorney.

People who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury usually experience a number of physical and cognitive (thinking) challenges as well as personality, behavioral, and emotional changes. All of the effects of the brain trauma can be devastating to the injured, as well as there family and friends (see my prior Blog post on one San Diego woman's story). Here are some of the changes following a Traumatic Brain Injury:

Physical Problems
Decreased Mobility
Headaches and Dizziness
Pain and Sensation Changes
Balance and Coordination
Fatigue and Sleeplessness
Motor Control and Metabolism

Cognitive Changes
Memory and Concentration
Learning and Language
Reasoning and Organization
Flexibility and Speed of Thinking

Personality, Behavioral and Emotional Changes
Depression/Anxiety
Paranoia/ Mood Swings
Insensitivity to Others/Verbal Outbursts
Irritability/Low Frustration Tolerance
Impulsiveness/Decreased Self-Control
Apathy/Passiveness

Changes in personality, after a Traumatic Brain Injury, are usually exaggerated aspects of the victims pre-injury personality. People who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury in an auto accident, bike accident, motorcycle accident, fall, or any accident need to be sensitive to the effects of the trauma as indicted above. Talking to an experienced personal injury attorney can provide the guidance the victim and their family need.

Scientists at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society, held in San Diego, unveiled a new technique for scanning spine injuries. The scan, which is called CT spine reformatting, could eliminate the need for x-rays, lower radiation exposure, and provide a more economical way of evaluating spine injuries to the mid and low back regions.

Studies conducted at the University Of Calgary's Foothills Medical Center with patients who had reformatting CT scans and x-rays of the same parts of the spine, showed that x-rays were less accurate than the scans. According to Viesha Clure, lead author of the study, "the x-rays provide no additional information, and in fact, some of these fractures were not seen on the x-rays." The new technique makes diagnosis and treatment of spine injuries more precise and effective.

Development of safer, more cost effective and accurate techniques for evaluating traumatic spine injuries is crucial for victims of personal injury. In far to many cases when injuries are not properly diagnosed and treated, resolution of injuries is prolonged and can lead to permanent residual effects. Some of the most common causes of spine injuries arise from auto accidents, motorcycle accident or slip and fall accidents to name a few. Receiving prompt medical treatment using the latest technology can have a great influence on the outcome of serious injuries. Knowing about cutting edge technology and treatment options is one of the many benefits of talking to an experienced personal injury attorney.

AMERICAN CHRONICAL reports that the California State Assembly Health Committee unanimously passed a bill by Assembly member Alberto Torrico which would extend funding for spinal cord injury research for an additional five years. The original bill, The Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act was signed into law in 2000, renewed in 2005 and would expire next January if the new bill is not approved. The funds are allocated to the University of California, and $13.9 million to date have generated an additional $60 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health and other sources. The funds have helped in promoting research projects at a number of University of California schools including UC San Diego, leading to 175 published scientific papers and scientific breakthroughs.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, there are approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries (SCI) each year in the US not including those who die at the scene of the accident. The most common cause being motor vehicle crashes accounting for 41.3% of SCI cases, followed by falls 27.3%, acts of violence 15%, recreational sporting and other activities account for the balance. With various degrees of damage to the spine at different segments, less than 1% of persons experience complete neurological recovery by the time they are discharged from the hospital. The residual effects on SCI victims range from intermittent or chronic pain to various degrees of Paraplegia. To whatever degree, the effects of SCI are compelling and life altering. In many cases extensive medical care, rehabilitation and counseling are required to deal with the devastating effects.

Continued funding for research and development of diagnostic tools, therapy/rehabilitation and breakthroughs in the use of Stem Cell research, for example, are critical. In my many years of representing victims of personal injury resulting from auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents and slip and fall accidents I have personally witnessed the devastating effects of SCI. Consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney can have a great impact on helping you or a loved one get the help you need.

According to sources at Emery University Phase III clinical trials using progesterone for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) will start in March, 2010. The trials will be led by David Wright, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Emory University School of Medicine who discussed the progress in the use of progesterone for TBI at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego on Feb. 19, 2010. Earlier trials by Emory researchers found evidence that progesterone is safe for use in patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries. There was a 50 percent reduction in mortality and treatment improved functional outcomes and reduced disability in patients with moderate brain injury.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention every 15 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a significant traumatic brain injury. Approximately 2 million adults and children in the United States suffer from traumatic brain injuries each year- leading to 50,000 deaths and 80,000 new cases of long term disability."This is a health care crisis," Dr. Wright declared, "The most common cause for TBI in this country [used to be] motor vehicle collisions, but as [the population] ages, falls have overtaken vehicle collisions as the number one cause. ... There are a number of things we do clinically to try to prevent the brain from swelling, but the reality is that we have yet to develop an effective therapy for TBI." Despite the enormous problem there is no effective medication to improve outcomes following a traumatic brain injury. The positive results in prior trials using progesterone provides hope for individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries and their families.

Traumatic brain injuries can result from a wide variety of different causes such as auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and fall accidents or negligent medical care. The results can be devastating to the injured victim and their loved ones. Knowing which medical specialists, rehabilitation experts and other resources can be critical to a successful outcome for the injured person. That is why it is critical to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney if you or someone you know has been injured in an accident.