California Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
Treatment Options for Victims of Traumatic Brain Injury
I. Initial Treatment
- Emergency room care
- Trauma surgeon/staff will initiate resuscitation procedures, monitor bodily functions, respond to life-threatening changes, and coordinate follow-up care with hospital personnel.
II. Surgical Treatment
In cases where the patient needs surgery for their injuries, surgical staff may include all of some of the following:
- Neurosurgeon – doctor who performs brain and spinal surgery.
- Orthopedic surgeon – doctor who works with fractures of the arms, legs or spinal column.
- General surgeon – doctor trained in surgery of the entire body.
- Trauma nurse – specialized nurse who is able to respond to life-threatening changes, provides supportive care and coordinate care with hospital personnel.
III. Rehabilitative Care
- Rehabilitative care – A TBI patient who is sent to rehabilitative care for treatment will be cared for by a team of professionals who specialize in the care of trauma victims.
- The goals of the rehabilitative team are to stabilize the medical and rehabilitative issues related to TBI, prevent secondary infections like pneumonia, pressure sores, contractures – chronic loss of joint motion.
- The patient will be given help to help regain any losses in functional care such as the ability to move, use the bathroom, brush teeth, get out of bed, talk, eat, and think.
- Rehabilitative staff also provides support for a patient’s safety. There is a risk of patients falling, eloping (trying to leave the hospital/rehabilitation center and return home), and getting hurt.
- Help with patients who experience memory loss or suffer from bouts of confusion.
IV. Severe T.B.I.
- In patients with severe traumatic brain injury, rehabilitative care is not an immediate option.
- In these cases, patients continue to receive acute treatment and in some case, surgical treatment.
- Caretakers of patients with severe traumatic brain injury often seek legal advice from qualified attorneys who specialize in traumatic brain injury.
Brain injury attorneys are able to help safeguard the patient’s rights, seek due compensation to help pay for expenses ranging from future medical care and current medications to on-going treatment as well as pain and suffering.