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Sacramento Open Head Injury Lawyers
Sacramento Open Head Injury
If you or someone you care about has suffered an unfortunate Sacramento open head injury, chances are you don't need a website to remind you to get immediate medical care. But having the information available is a helpful resource. This potentially fatal injury has various causes, some common, some not, and recovery is an intense, dedicated process, but possible. There is also, of course, legal assistance to help you through the ordeal and hold negligent or careless parties responsible for your medical/surgical bills, time off of work, pain, suffering, and rehab costs.
Causes of Open Head Injuries
1. Blunt or Acute Trauma
Motor vehicle collisions, sports/football injuries, slip and fall accidents, and even physical altercations with other people can fracture the skull, exposing delicate neural tissue and causing untold permanent damage. Assault with blunt instruments, such as a hammer or a shovel, or assault resulting in a bullet wound, can incapacitate a person, lead to long-term or permanent loss of brain function, and even lead to coma or death. That said, even in extreme cases of open head injury – a bullet lodged in the brain, for instance -- medical intervention may not only be able to save the victim's life but also help the victim recover much, if not most, functionality.
2. Surgical Blunders
If a doctor conducts a head operation on a patient and fails to suture the skull according to proper practices, the skull can reopen, exposing the brain to the elements which can lead to direct and indirect problems, such as swelling, contusions, seizures, neurological disturbances, anoxia or hypoxia of sensitive tissues, shearing, dangerous release of neurochemicals into the brain, and bruising and bleeding.
3. Open Head Injury That at First Appears to be Closed Head Injury
Unfortunately, not all open head injuries are easily diagnosable. In some cases, the skull may fracture or fissure in such a way that it's difficult for even experienced physicians to classify the injury precisely as an open or closed head injury. For instance, a hairline fracture in the skull may be overlooked or written off as an insignificant genetic abnormality when it turns out to be evidence of open head injury.
Treatment Options and Chances for Recovery
Although neural tissue does not regenerate in the same way that other tissues (e.g. skin, muscle, some organ tissues) can, even victims of severe Sacramento open head injuries can recover a surprising amount of function; although this depends on certain factors, such as the duration between the incident causing the injury and medical intervention, the quality of medical intervention and follow-up rehab care, the patient's wellness at the time of the injury, whether the patient had preexisting conditions, the nature and duration of any brain swelling or bleeding that accompanies the injury, and the patient's reaction to certain medications.
At the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), physicians use a variety of machines to help stabilize patients and prevent further damage. These machines include EKG machines, Foley catheters, ventilators, ventricular drain tubes, anti embolism stockings – which prevent blood clots and subsequent stroke – and intracranial pressure monitors (ICP).
Beyond Medical Help – Legal Assistance for a Brain Injury Related Personal Injury Claim
The Sacramento head injury lawyers at Estey & Bomberger, LLP can help you get compensated for your open head injury. Learn more about the firm by calling today for a free consultation at (800) 610-1892.