Powered By Blogger

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Concussion Recognition Training for Coaches of 11-18 Year Old Athletes in Colorado

On January 13, 2011, SB11-040 was introduced into the Colorado Senate by Sen. Nancy Spence (R-Centennial).  The bill, named the “Jake Snakenberg Youth Concussion Act,” was named after Jake Snakenberg, a freshman football player at Grandview High School who died in 2004 as a result of a concussion.  As currently written, SB11-040 requires coaches who deal with 11-18 year old athletes in Colorado schools, private sports clubs, and recreation centers to attend annual concussion recognition courses.  It also requires coaches to remove the player from the game, competition,  or even practice if they suspect that the young athlete has sustained a concussion.  Finally, the bill limits the liability of the coach unless his acts or omissions were grossly negligent, willful, or wanton, and completely shields any liability for board of directors or governing boards for the school districts, private clubs, or rec facilities for their coaches’ conduct.
The course is scheduled to be a 30-45 minute online course that will be offered for free statewide.  The measure will likely get its first public hearing late this month or early next month.  It has both Republican and Democratic sponsors in the State House as well as the Senate.
It will be very interesting to watch this bill as it progresses, and whether any opposition will be made because of the limited liability it proposes to those individuals we, as parents, entrust to keep our children safe during sports play.  We will continue to monitor this bill and post any relevant updates as they arise.  The complete bill, as introduced, together with the bill’s history can be found at: http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2011a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/A9CE9CEE12645CAA8725780800800D80?open&file=040_01.pdf 

Friday, January 14, 2011

Gunshot Wound Traumatic Brain Injuries

With the nation’s focus on the tragic incident that happened to Congresswoman Giffords in Arizona, concern for her recovery has everyone interested in general about traumatic brain injuries caused by gunshot wounds.  Statistically, about 90% of individuals who are shot in the head die, but most die within the first couple of days.  Of those that survive, lasting deficits depend on the area or areas of the brain that were affected by the shooting.  One key treatment for survival of such a traumatic injury is to remove a portion of the skull to eliminate pressure on the brain from its swelling after the injury.  The swelling typically continues for about five days and is usually the worst on the third day after the injury.  A second treatment is to place the patient in a medically induced coma, which limits brain activity, so that the remaining brain cells can have a chance to repair themselves.  Patients are also put on a respirator to keep the brain cells bathed in oxygen, which is needed for cell recovery.
Once the initial survival hurdle is overcome, the patient is still at risk for seizures and infection, so medications are given early on to prevent both.   Severe brain injuries, such as from gunshot wounds, can leave the victim with physical disabilities, cognitive problems, and behavioral symptoms.  The potential physical symptoms can run from total or partial paralysis to things like vision and speech problems, and general fatigue.  Cognitive and behavioral disabilities from a severe brain injury can pose devastating problems for the victim too.  There are innumerable cognitive and behavioral issues that a TBI victim may have to deal with, including attention, concentration, learning, and memory issues, as well as depression, irritability, and inappropriate behavior issues.  Recovery from such a devastating injury is very slow, and improvements can continue to be seen months up to several years later.  Some of the recovery is attributable to rewiring of neurons in the brain, sprouting new connections to attempt to regain their former functions and take over functions of the neurons that were lost.
Rehabilitation usually starts at a Brain Injury Program at an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital and then progresses to outpatient programs and working with support groups.  Finally, one of the most important parts of the rehabilitation process is family understanding and support for the TBI victim.  Dealing with the effects of TBI is a lifelong issue for the family, as well as the victim.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

DHA May Play A Neuroprotective Role for TBI Victims

A study by Researchers from the West Virginia University School of Medicine, with colleagues from Columbia, MD-based Martek Biosciences, published in the February issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, states that taking the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexanoic acid (DHA) might offer a new way of protecting against traumatic brain injury (TBI). This omega-3 fatty acid is widely available from an algae or fish oil source.

Even though the study warns the results are preliminary, the results raise the "intriguing" possibility of preventive treatment with DHA in groups at high risk of TBI, such as military personnel and athletes in contact sports—including football players. In the study, rats were treated with DHA at varying doses, equivalent to those used in humans taking DHA supplements. After one month of treatment, tissue and behavioural responses to induced TBI were compared between groups of treated animals. The tissue damage caused by TBI was significantly reduced in rats taking the highest dose of DHA: 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Cellular findings included a significant reduction in expression of a protein (beta amyloid protein) that has been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, animals receiving the highest dose of DHA before TBI also had reduced expression of key indicators of brain cell death (caspase 3 and macrophages). The DHA-treated rats also performed better on a test of spatial memory, indicating less behavioural impairment.

These studies add to recent evidence suggesting that DHA may be the first treatment of any type to reduce brain tissue damage caused by TBI.

While more research is necessary, another pending study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is looking at whether DHA affects long-term brain function in retired National Football League players. This is certainly an important subject to keep appraised of as research continues in this area, and we will continue to report any new developments.

 
Read entire journal article: http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2011/02000/Dietary_Supplementation_With_the_Omega_3_Fatty.31.aspx

Thursday, January 6, 2011

New Concussion Detection Device in Development

Researchers at the Greensboro Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering in North Carolina are in the process of developing a device that would use blood, saliva, or a urine sample from a person to detect if a person has sustained a head injury.  A chip will sense the presence of compounds in the body that the brain releases when it's injured.  The test is one that could be done quickly on the scene of an auto accident, on a ski slope, or even on a football field.  Researchers hope to have a prototype of the detection device by the end of 2011.  This is truly a great advancement for Traumatic Brain Injury victims, because the sooner a brain injury is detected, the more effective treatment can be for the injured victim. 
 http://sports.espn.go.com/action/freeskiing/news/story?id=5985987

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  As an attorney who has handled traumatic brain injury cases for more than 25 years, and as the mother of a traumatic brain injury victim, I understand that each brain injury is unique, not only in terms of the victim’s symptoms and prognosis, but also for the effect is has on the victim's family. I have devoted my law practice, Nelson Law Offices, LLC, to helping traumatic brain injury victims throughout Colorado. In my practice I am passionate about getting these victims the help and compensation that they deserve. In doing so, it is important to keep on top of what is happening in this field.  Therefore, this blog will provide up to date general information on traumatic brain injuries as well as any new developments for detection, prevention, and treatment.