Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the proceedings.)
INCREASED RISK OF FUTURE SEIZURES
Dr. Van Ostrand discusses plaintiff’s increased risk of seizures as follows:
“In regards to her future risk of seizures, the currently available neurology literature is replete with studies demonstrating an increased risk of seizures following a traumatic brain injury. It is possible that she had a seizure at the scene of the subject accident based on the report that she had a clenched jaw at that time. It should also be noted that her post accident EEG was abnormal and may reflect evidence of cortical irritability. Such a finding may suggest an increased risk for the subsequent development of seizures. The risk of not only early but late post-traumatic seizures increasing with the severity of traumatic brain injury. One study investigated 5,984 episodes of traumatic brain injury (Seizures, Vol. 9, Issue 7, pages 453-457, J. Annegers) and found a relative risk of 17.2 for the development of seizures following a severe traumatic brain injury. Although the risk of seizures decreases with each passing year, traumatic brain injury patients are still considered to be at risk of subsequent seizures for 15 or more years following the brain injury.”
INCREASED RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S DEMENTIA
Recent studies have reported that persons who suffer a traumatic brain injury like [plaintiff], have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia in old age. Dr. Van Ostrand comments on this in his report, stating the following:
“In regards to the future risk of [plaintiff] developing Alzheimer’s dementia, this issue has been discussed extensively in the neurology literature. Several studies now exist which address the epidemiological, statistical, theoretical,and pathophysiological theories behind traumatic pain injury and the subsequent development of Alzheimer’s dementia. Although there does exist some debate in regards to the precise mechanism and exact relationship between traumatic brain injury and the subsequent development of Alzheimer’s, the number of studies demonstrating a causal relationship. (See Part 8 of 10.)
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.