Accidents involving the brain can be extremely damaging, leaving victims with a drastically altered future and staggering treatment bills. Injuries involving a lack of oxygen to the brain can happen through car accidents, assaults, fires, or medical malpractice. Regardless of how you or your loved one were harmed, a San Luis Obispo brain injury attorney is a valuable asset when seeking compensation for the negligence of others.
What is a hypoxic brain injury?
Hypoxic Brain Injury (HBI) refers to brain damage resulting from a partial lack of oxygen. Brain damage due to a complete absence of oxygen is referred to as Anoxic Brain Injury (ABI).
The human brain uses approximately 20% of the body’s oxygen supply. When the oxygen flow is impeded due to injury, disease, or some other medical condition, the results may be deadly. Brain cells die after only four minutes when deprived of sufficient oxygen, and permanent brain damage can occur in as little as five minutes.
What are the most common causes of HBI?
HBIs can result from a wide variety of situations, including:
- Choking
- Near drowning
- Suffocation/strangulation
- Smoke inhalation
- Stroke
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Traumatic brain injury – A violent impact to the head, such as from a motor vehicle accident, physical assault, or a trip and fall incident
- Cardiac arrest
- Injury to the trachea (windpipe)
- High altitudes
- Drug abuse
Identifying the cause and who is responsible for an HBI is a primary task for your brain injury attorney in San Luis Obispo. They must investigate all aspects of your situation and collect evidence demonstrating evidence. This can involve speaking with witnesses, accessing video footage, and collaborating with experts.
What are common symptoms associated with HBI?
Because the brain uses so much oxygen and cell death happens so quickly during hypoxia, the resulting damage often reduces a person’s cognitive and physical functions dramatically. According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), immediate symptoms of hypoxic brain injury include light-headedness, confusion, and a bluish tinge to the skin.
Other symptoms to watch for include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches
- Weakness in the arms and legs
- Problems with concentration, attention, and focus
- Memory loss
- Decreased coordination
- Brain death
If possible, it’s vital to remove the person from the cause and get medical treatment immediately. For example, if someone is in a burning building, moving them to fresh air can reduce the effects of smoke inhalation. In situations where the person experienced a heart attack, they should be transported to a hospital right away.
Can someone recover from hypoxic brain injury?
The Shepherd Center advises that every case of hypoxic brain injury will be different based on the cause, severity of the damage, and the victim’s individual medical history. It is possible to recover fully from some injuries, but recovery may be limited if the lack of oxygen lasts more than a few minutes. Patients may be rendered permanently and substantially disabled, unable to work or care for themselves.
Hypoxic brain injury can leave victims with permanent injuries, including:
- Cortical blindness (visual impairment rooted in the brain, not the eye)
- Speech and communication impairments
- Mood changes or disorders
- Memory issues
- Chronic fatigue
- Tremors and spastic limbs
It can take weeks or months to fully determine the severity of a person’s injuries. Because the patient could be left with lifelong medical costs and limited income opportunities, the primary goal is to avoid a future financial crisis due to another person’s negligence or malice.
Does hypoxic brain injury show on MRI?
Yes, they do. As noted on Radiopaedia.org, MRI scans are a primary tool used to identify and diagnose hypoxic brain injuries within the first 24 hours. Using diffusion-weighted imaging, doctors can see where the damage occurred and compare that to the patient’s symptoms to predict how the injury will affect cognitive and motor functions.
How long does hypoxic brain injury last?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the effects of a hypoxic brain injury can last for a few weeks to a lifetime, depending on many factors. Where the damage occurred in the brain, whether the patient was in a coma (and for how long), and how long the oxygen deficit lasted are crucial elements of every hypoxia case.
The key to recovery is having the resources to focus on getting better. Patients may need to move to a nursing or rehabilitation facility for concentrated physical and cognitive therapy. They may need to leave work or take a less demanding job after recovery, necessitating a gap in their job history while they heal. They may also deserve financial relief for the pain and suffering caused by the negligent party.
Did you suffer a hypoxic brain injury? We can help.
When you or a family member have suffered a hypoxic brain injury, and someone else is at fault, you have legal options for securing compensation for your damages. By partnering with a qualified San Luis Obispo brain injury attorney, you can explore the potential for filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit to hold wrongdoers accountable.
To schedule a free consultation at Ernst Law Group, please call (805) 541-0300 today.
