Brain Injury Prognosis

It is difficult to predict the outcome of a brain injury in the first hours, days or even weeks following the trauma.

In general terms, the longer the coma lasts, the less likely the individual is to recover fully, however, the specific nature of the damage to the brain must be considered as well as other physical injuries. Sometimes there are "miraculous" recoveries from very severe injuries, and very poor recoveries from less extensive injuries.

The full extent of a brain injury may be unknown for months or even years. The doctor will usually answer this question with "wait and see." This is a difficult answer to accept, but is often the most accurate, since each brain injury is unique and many factors will determine the quality and quantity of recovery, including age, physical condition and the presence or absence of prior trauma to the brain.

It was once thought that the recovery was fairly complete after a year or two. We now believe that recovery can continue throughout the survivor's life. The survivor generally recovers to a point and then reaches a plateau where little progress is made. They may remain at this plateau or after a period of time show differing levels of improvement.

Although the medical community has made tremendous gains over the past few years in assuring the survival of brain injured individuals, there is still much to learn about brain swelling and its management.

Understanding Subtle Brain Injury

The concussions that disable, are almost always more symptomatic at 24 hours, than at the 2-4 hour time frame when injured persons are evaluated in the emergency room. Brain injury symptoms escalate over the first 24 hours, because brain injury involves a cascade of events. It is critical that if you are still symptomatic the day after your injury, go back to the same Emergency Room, don’t wait for a doctors appointment. It is critical that the Emergency Room personnel see that the symptoms still persist or have gotten worse.

Contact the Brain Injury Law Group: 1-800-992-9447

This site is brought to you by the advocates of the Brain Injury Law Group, a community of plaintiff's trial lawyers across the United States united by a common interest in serving the rights of persons with traumatic brain injuries and a common commitment to fully understanding the anatomic, medical and psychological aspects of TBI.