Traumatic brain injuries may be correctable in the elderly

People in Washington may want to learn about an exciting new study out of Finland that demonstrates even elderly patients may be helped by surgery following a traumatic brain injury. Historically, when elderly people suffered such an injury, nothing was done due to their age and the fact that they could die from such surgery.

Now, people are getting older and enjoying a longer life span. Researchers with the Helsinki University Hospital Department of Neurosurgery decided to study the effects of surgical treatment for people at or over the age of 75 who had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

While none of the patients who were unconscious when brought to the hospital remained alive after one year, those who were conscious and who underwent the corrective surgery recovered, according to the researchers. Those who recovered then reportedly enjoyed similar life spans as did their peers. One of the study’s authors indicated that he believes the results demonstrate that deciding against surgical intervention for TBI should not be a decision made only on the basis of age. While the study was small, the author indicated that it did demonstrate that elderly patients could potentially benefit from surgery when they have suffered a TBI.

When a person falls or is in an accident and suffers a serious brain injury as a result, it is important to get immediate medical attention. In some cases, surgery and aftercare may help the person recover. In the event a person’s TBI is caused by another’s negligence, such as a car accident caused by an impaired or distracted driver, a personal injury attorney can often be of assistance in seeking accident compensation from the at-fault party for the losses that have been sustained.