According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million individuals incur a traumatic brain injury that may affect their ability to live a normal life every year. For those that were present earlier this year at the Boston Marathon, many may have incurred a TBI and be unaware that they are suffering from this type of injury.
The effects of the bombings at the Boston Marathon
In April of 2013, two explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured at least 264, says CNN. While many were injured, some still did walk away unharmed. For example, a 78 year old man present at the marathon stated that he walked away from the scene with only ringing ears and a scrape on his knee, says the Huffington Post.
However, just because individuals were able to walk away from the area where the bombings took place unharmed does not mean that they were able to completely escape from harm. According to new research conducted on NFL football players and Gulf War veterans, just being exposed to the percussive shock waves caused by an explosion may have a profound impact on the health of the brain.
According to a biomedical engineer at Boston University, it’s not the actual blast of a bomb that threatens the brain, it’s the second component of the explosion. Following right behind the super-sonic wave of an explosion is the ‘blast wind’ that causes the head to swing back and forth extremely quickly. It is this instance that may harm the brain and cause a TBI.
Treatment options for brain injuries
Although a TBI may not be apparent at first, early symptoms of brain injuries include things like:
Since no two brain injuries are alike, some may find that they fully recover while others may be in for a lifetime struggle of living with this disease. Treatment options for moderate to several brain injuries may include medication to limit the amount of damage incurred, surgery, to minimize additional damage to the brain’s tissues and in some cases rehabilitation to help a person re-learn certain skills like walking and talking.
If you suffered from a TBI as the result of an injury caused by the negligence of another, it is important that you talk to an attorney that can help you in the aftermath of your injury.