Accident victims in New Mexico may be affected by recent research conducted on the nature of brain injuries. Biomedical engineers from Columbia University are now attempting to change many of the common misconceptions held about the brain. Rather than describing the brain as an object that rattles around inside a vessel, one professor likened it to gelatin, warping in shape as the container reforms. According to these professionals, traumatic brain injuries are typically difficult to diagnose because the cells may die off long before the actual tissue is destroyed.
The most common causes of TBI are contct sport injuries, motor vehicle accidents and falls. According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, TBI accounts for approximately 30 percent of the injury-related deaths that occur in the country every year. During a Sept. 17 lecture, the lead professor expressed his belief that their research could potentially help neurologists prevent the initial damage from worsening.
These Columbia researchers claim that physicians have a short window for treating the injury before the brain cells begin to die. The industry may begin to develop drugs that treat TBI, once physicians understand how the mechanics of the impact translate into the actual biological damage. The team of researchers is currently studying brain matter in an attempt to determine how much the tissue can be stretched before the cells die.
A person who has suffered a brain injury due to the negligence of another may want to speak with an attorney to determine if any legal remedies are available. In some cases, legal counsel might find it advisable to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party seeking financial damages for the victim’s losses.
