New Hope for Brain Injury Patients as Nasal Spray Therapy Advances
Being thrown from a car, tumbling down the stairs, or being involved in a collision on the playing field could leave someone with a traumatic brain injury (TBIs) that can change their life in an instant. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, which is an ideal time to acknowledge the seriousness of TBIs and the impact they have on victims and their families. TBIs often leave victims with cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges that could last for years, even a lifetime. For those struggling through recovery, the journey often feels never-ending. Currently, there are few effective treatments to prevent lasting damage. But the results of breakthrough research might change that.
Scientists have developed a nasal spray showing remarkable promise for brain protection after injury. In recent mouse studies involving serious head trauma, the results stunned researchers. Brain inflammation dropped significantly, movement improved, and cognitive decline slowed dramatically. The injured mice showed less anxiety, moved with greater ease, and displayed healing patterns previously unseen in TBI research.
How does nasal spray therapy treat TBIs?
This innovative spray targets the brain's immune response using a specialized antibody already being tested for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's. Delivering it through the nose allows it to regulate immune cells in brain tissue. This then calms the inflammatory storm that typically follows head trauma and helps prevent cascading damage in mice.
If human trials confirm these findings, patients could receive a simple, non-invasive treatment in those critical hours after a head injury. This means, doctors may soon intervene before permanent damage takes hold, offering patients not just hope, but tangible healing.
Where uncertainty and gradual decline once ruled, this treatment offers the possibility of immediate intervention and meaningful recovery. However, the implications stretch far beyond traumatic brain injuries alone. Stroke survivors, patients with brain hemorrhages, and people exposed to repeated head impacts (for example, athletes and military personnel) could all benefit.
What types of TBIs are caused by negligence?
TBIs range from mild to severe, with each type affecting the brain differently. They most common types that can be caused by negligence include:
Concussion
A concussion is the most common type of TBI and occurs when a blow to the head, sudden jolt, or rapid head movement causes the brain to move within the skull. Concussions often result from whiplash, falls, or contact sports. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light or noise. Some people may experience confusion, difficulty concentrating, or mood changes such as irritability or anxiety. While most concussions resolve within a few weeks, repeated head injuries can lead to long-term cognitive problems.
Brain contusion
A contusion, or brain bruise, occurs when there is a direct impact to the head and causes localized swelling and bleeding in the brain. This can be from a fall, car accident, or blunt force trauma. This type of injury can lead to severe headaches, drowsiness, slurred speech, memory problems, and coordination issues. While smaller contusions may heal with rest, larger ones can increase pressure in the brain and may require surgical intervention.
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)
A DAI happens when strong rotational forces cause the brain to shift violently inside the skull. This movement stretches and damages nerve fibers, and disrupts communication between different areas of the brain. Symptoms can be severe and include prolonged loss of consciousness, difficulty waking up, motor function loss, cognitive impairment, and changes in breathing or vital functions. DAIs often lead to long-term disability or coma, and recovery depends on the extent of brain damage.
Penetrating brain injury
A penetrating brain injury occurs when a foreign object, such as a bullet, shrapnel, or a sharp object, pierces the skull and directly damages brain tissue. This type of injury can cause severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties, seizures, paralysis in certain areas of the body, and cognitive or sensory impairments. Recovery varies based on the location and severity of the damage, but most cases require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Coup-contrecoup
A coup-contrecoup injury happens when a forceful impact causes the brain to strike one side of the skull and then rebound to hit the opposite side. This results in two areas of injury and can lead to severe headaches, cognitive impairment, difficulty speaking or understanding language, vision problems, and loss of balance or coordination. Recovery depends on the severity of the brain damage, and in some cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure.
Second impact syndrome (SIS)
SIS is a rare but extremely dangerous condition that occurs when a person sustains a second concussion before the first one has healed. This causes rapid and severe brain swelling, leading to sudden loss of consciousness and rapid deterioration of motor and cognitive functions. SIS is often fatal or results in severe brain damage.
What types of personal injury accidents often lead to TBIs?
TBIs can result from various types of personal injury accidents, many of which involve sudden impacts, violent jolts, or direct trauma to the head. Some of the most common personal injury accidents that lead to TBIs include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car, motorcycle, truck, and bicycle accidents are among the leading causes of TBIs. The force of a collision can cause the head to hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows, leading to concussions, contusions, or more severe brain injuries. Even in minor crashes, whiplash-like motion can cause the brain to move within the skull, resulting in brain trauma.
- Slip and fall accidents: Falls are a major cause of TBIs, especially among older adults and workers in hazardous environments. Slipping on wet floors, tripping over uneven surfaces, or falling from ladders or stairs can lead to serious head injuries, particularly if the head strikes a hard surface such as concrete or tile.
- Workplace accidents: Construction sites, warehouses, and other industrial settings pose a high risk for TBIs. Falling objects, slips and falls, and machinery-related incidents can cause severe TBIs, particularly if workers are not wearing proper safety gear like helmets.
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: When a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck by a vehicle, the impact can cause serious head injuries, even with a helmet on. The force of the collision or the secondary impact of hitting the ground can lead to concussions, skull fractures, or severe brain trauma.
- Assaults and violent attacks: Physical assaults, including blows to the head, gunshot wounds, and domestic violence, are a significant cause of TBIs. Any direct impact, shaking, or penetrating wound can cause lasting brain damage.
Did you suffer a TBI due to negligence? You deserve justice and legal support
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI due to someone else's negligence, you could be in for a long and costly recovery. When the insurance companies try to reduce or deny your compensation, the South Carolina attorneys at Twenge + Twombley are ready to counter their tactics. Our legal team knows how to gather evidence that insurance companies can't ignore. We fight for compensation that covers not just today's therapy appointment, but the care you might need five, ten, or twenty years from now.
Additionally, you shouldn't have to choose between getting justice and paying your mortgage. That's why we don't ask for a dime unless we win your case. The consultation where we'll listen to your story? Completely free. The hours we'll spend investigating your accident and building your case? You pay nothing until we secure compensation. When you're ready to talk, we're ready to listen and answer any questions you have. To learn more, contact us online or call us today to get a free consultation with our experienced and compassionate legal team.
"He did everything he promised. Kept me informed every step of the way. I was always able to get in touch with him not just his staff. I will use Mr. Twombley only in the future." - Crystal, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐