A CT scan can sometimes reveal signs of an old brain injury, depending on the type of damage sustained and how the brain tissue has healed. The traumatic brain injury (TBI) may not have been recognized or properly diagnosed and treated when the head trauma initially occurred.
The team at Ernst Law Group understands the devastating effects brain damage can have on victims and the families who care for them. A California traumatic brain injury lawyer is here to offer support and help you find a path to justice when someone else’s negligence caused your injury and suffering.
What are brain injuries?
A traumatic brain injury can result from a blow to the head or a body jolt that causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull. This motion can bruise or otherwise injure brain tissue. It can damage blood vessels, leading to brain bleeds. These blows can also cause skull fractures that can harm tissue beneath the skull.
TBIs range from mild to severe. A mild traumatic brain injury may include a minor concussion that may or may not involve a brief loss of consciousness, but is not life-threatening and usually heals with time and rest. Still, some victims experience post-concussion syndrome and long-term symptoms when not properly diagnosed and treated. Previous concussions or head injuries increase your risk of complications.
Moderate and severe TBIs involve longer periods of unconsciousness and involve more severe damage to brain function, often leaving victims with permanent physical, emotional, and cognitive impairment. Victims may lose the ability to live independently, work and earn income, and experience changes in personality.
How are CT scans used in TBI diagnosis?
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan is one tool used in diagnosing brain injuries. Using X-rays and computer technology, a head CT scan can “show detailed images of any part of the body.” Per the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR), CT scans are “highly effective” in identifying bleeding around or within the brain and brain swelling, conditions likely to demand emergency surgery.
Other diagnostic tools include the Glasgow coma scale, described by the Mayo Clinic as a 15-point test used to evaluate the “initial severity of a brain injury” by noting the victim’s ability to follow directions, move their eyes, arms, and legs, and speak coherently. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is another diagnostic tool, and TBI blood tests are revolutionizing diagnosis as well.
Is it possible for an old injury to show on a CT scan?
The ASNR explains that CT scans can “demonstrate brain atrophy.” Brain atrophy occurs when dead or damaged tissue is reabsorbed after a TBI. The damaged tissue may not fully heal, and the scan may reveal the TBI long after the injury occurred.
How do I know who is responsible for the old injury?
Medical professionals may not have assessed the symptoms properly, failing to carry out full diagnostic measures by ordering CT scans or MRIs. While sometimes liability in traumatic brain injury cases belongs to the person who caused the injury, other times it falls on negligent medical providers.
If a CT scan shows an old brain injury, what does it mean for my recovery?
The early diagnosis and treatment of TBI is critical for increasing recovery potential. For milder TBIs, treatment can help avoid continuing headaches or memory loss. For moderate to severe injuries, early intervention, such as occupational therapy and other treatments, improves the chances of regaining physical and cognitive functioning and can prevent deadly complications.
We are committed to the pursuit of justice
Never dismiss a head injury. Sometimes, the effects of the injury take time to appear, and getting diagnosed and treated right away can prevent further damage and debilitation. Whether your injury is recent or a CT scan showed an older injury, revealing earlier negligence, Ernst Law Group is here to help you get justice. Call (805) 541-0300 or message us online to arrange your free case review.