Secondary Brain Injury Prevention

Brain injuries are some of the most serious conditions we can develop after an accident. While mild forms of brain injuries can heal relatively quickly, moderate to severe injuries can lead to severe, lasting complications and can often be fatal. One type of brain injury that can be especially dangerous is a secondary brain injury.

If you developed a secondary brain injury after an accident, you may have to cope with ongoing medical treatments and expenses, lost wages, and a reduced quality of life. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries through a Seattle traumatic brain injury lawsuit or insurance claim, depending on the circumstances of the accident and the presence. Speak to an attorney to learn more about your legal options.

What Is Secondary Brain Injury?

Primary brain injury is the direct result of the head trauma, referring to the damage we experience immediately following the accident. Primary brain injury can be quite dangerous, leading to death, bleeding, brain damage, and other complications. However, the initial damage may not seem that serious.

When you suffer a brain injury, you may experience an onset of pain that subsides after a while. Since the pain is gone, you may refrain from visiting an emergency room. However, you should always be cautious of additional complications after a primary brain injury, and you should always seek medical attention after hitting your head. This is because of the risk of secondary brain injury, the indirect result of the head trauma.

Secondary brain injury refers to additional injuries that could occur in your brain and body following the primary injury. This injury is a major risk you should be aware of after suffering an accident involving your head. With the primary brain injury, your brain may swell and you could experience inflammation, chemical release, cell injury, or cell death. You may experience lasting brain damage and even death if you do not seek medical attention for your brain injury.

Types of Secondary Brain Injury

Secondary brain injury can take multiple forms and lead to multiple complications. The type of secondary brain injury you could be at risk of developing depends on how quickly you go to the hospital and the type of initial trauma you suffered.

• Swelling of the brain and increased pressure inside of the skull
• Lack of oxygen to the brain, leading to brain damage
• Chemical changes in the brain that kill cells
• Bleeding inside of the skull
• Increased fluid build-up inside of the skull
• The development of infections inside of the skull
• Low blood pressure
• Insufficient blood flow to the head
• Brain abscesses

Symptoms of a Brain Injury

Several types of accidents can lead to primary and secondary brain injuries, including car and bike accidents, slip and falls, carbon monoxide poisoning, acts of violence, and hitting a flying object. You may not know if you have a brain injury right away. If you experience any of the following symptoms after head trauma, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting and nausea
• Seizures
• Loss of coordination
• A sense of confusion
• Agitation or other behavioral changes
• Clear fluids draining from nose or ears
• Loss of coordination
• Persistent, worsening headache
• Pupil dilation
• Slurred speech
• Inability to wake up or coma
• Numbness or weakness in fingers and toes

What to Do After Suffering a Brain Injury

One of the leading causes of secondary brain injury is the lack of proper medical attention. To prevent a secondary brain injury, see a doctor as soon as possible. After suffering a head injury, you should always visit the emergency room or call 911.

You should especially visit the doctor if you experience any of the symptoms of a brain injury listed above. Do not wait for your symptoms to worsen to see a doctor – these worsening symptoms could be the onset of secondary brain injury.