Serious Injury Law - Brain Injury News

Brain surgery tweeted live in the US

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:08:28 GMT

Brain surgery tweeted live in the US

Doctors in the US successfully performed brain surgery on a young woman with live tweets, graphic videos and photos, as well as up-to-the-minute commentary, sent out so people could follow the procedure in real-time.

Dr Dong Kim led the surgery at Houston's Memorial hospital, which saw a 21-year-old girl have a tumour removed while millions of individuals from across the globe looked on.

According to the Daily Mail, the benign mass was taken from her posterior right temporal lobe and required a two inch by two inch hole to be made in the patient's skull.

A statement from the hospital said: "Our goal of performing this surgery live via Twitter is to educate the general public about brain tumours and take them into the operating room to see what happens during a brain surgery."

The move may pave the way for procedures performed on brain injury victims to be streamed live in the future, so as to provide people with a greater insight into the world of surgery and brain function.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain�injury

Posted by Paul Breen

Brain injury experts to gather at Welsh conference

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:11:43 GMT

Brain injury experts to gather at Welsh conference

Swansea is set to host a brain injury conference attended by experts from across the UK, who will meet to discuss the latest developments in the field.

The South Wales Evening Post reports how the event on May 18th will coincide with Brain Injury Awareness Week, which starts on May 14th.

Specialists will attend the second annual South Wales Neuro-rehabilitation Conference at the Liberty Stadium.

Among the topics to be discussed are the challenges facing brain injury survivors and the development of neuro-rehabilitation advances.

Rodger Wood, professor of neuropsychology at Swansea University and honorary consultant clinical neuropsychologist at Morriston and Singleton Hospitals, said: "We are lucky to have some excellent neuro- rehabilitation professionals working right on our doorstep.

"I would encourage anyone who is involved in any aspect of neurological trauma to attend the day of seminars."

The Brain Injury Association Headway has asked supporters to don "weird and wonderful hats" to support Brain Injury Week and raise money for the charity.

News from Serious Law, specialist brain injury�solicitors

Posted by Matthew Dixon

Hospital pays out 7-figure sum to brain injury victim

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:11:51 GMT

Hospital pays out 7-figure sum to brain injury victim

A seven-figure sum has been awarded to the parents of a young girl who sustained a life-changing brain injury after a doctor wrongly diagnosed viral tonsillitis.

Kate Pierce developed meningitis when she was nine months old and a junior medic at Wrexham Maelor Hospital incorrectly claimed she was well enough to recover at home.

After asking for a second opinion, Mark Pierce and his wife were told a more senior doctor had confirmed the diagnosis, but after returning to the hospital hours later meningitis was found to be the true reason for the youngster's illness.

Commenting on his daughter' condition, Mr Pierce said: "She is brain damaged, she is registered both deaf and blind, she is fed through a tube in her stomach, she has chronic lung disease, she has severe epilepsy and sleep apnoea."

Meningitis symptoms include a rash, dislike of bright light, delirium, seizures, a stiff neck, a fever and vomiting.

News from Serious Law, specialist traumatic brain injury�solicitors

Posted by Paul Breen

Brain injury victim hailed a maths genius

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:03:37 GMT

Brain injury victim hailed a maths genius

A man who was left with a severe brain injury after being attacked by muggers has been hailed as a maths genius.

Jason Padgett was left with concussion after being ambushed outside a karaoke club and repeatedly kicked in the head, ABC News reports.

However, since recovering from the incident, the 41-year-old has discovered a talent for mathematical equations.

"I see bits and pieces of the Pythagorean theorem everywhere. Every single little curve, every single spiral, every tree is part of that equation," the college dropout commented.

Having never before shown an interest in mathematics or obtained a degree in the subject, experts believe the brain injury has left Mr Padgett with a unique gift.

He can now draw diagrams called fractals that are a visual representation of the formula Pi.

The news comes after fast food company KFC has been ordered to pay �1.5 million to the family of Monika Samaan who was left with brain damage after contracting salmonella poisoning from a Chicken Twister wrap.

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Posted by John Sherrington

Man declared brain dead proves doctors wrong

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:36 GMT

Man declared brain dead proves doctors wrong

A teenager who suffered a severe brain injury following a horrific car crash has described how he shocked doctors by recovering from a medically induced coma.

Steven Thorpe was 17 when he was admitted to hospital and underwent a craniotomy to alleviate swelling on his brain.

However, subsequent scans failed to detect any electrical pulses and the now 21-year-old was declared brain dead.

Despite being advised to switch off his life support machine, Mr Thorpe's father refused to give up on his son and asked GP Julia Piper for a second opinion.

Ms Piper commented: "It is extremely rare that a patient with having suffered such extensive trauma to the brain should survive. He is truly a unique case."

The news comes after New York police officer Eder Loor stunned doctors by surviving being stabbed in the head and pulling the knife out of his skull following a confrontation with an ex-convict.

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Posted by Matthew Heap

Brain injury footballer returns to the game

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:03:43 GMT

Brain injury footballer returns to the game

A professional footballer from Scotland has returned to the game after recovering from a brain injury that saw him take an 11-month break from playing for his team.

Jamie Langfield, who plays for Aberdeen, suffered a brain seizure while at home last May and has since only played competitively while on loan at Forfar.

Ahead of the clash with Inverness, Aberdeen manager Craig Brown said of Langfield: "He has been patiently waiting and he has done well in the practice games we have arranged."

Langfield replaced Wales international Jason Brown as keeper at the match in Scotland after displaying a return to his pre-illness form.

The sportsman was treated at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital when he fell ill at the end of the 2011 season.�

He underwent several tests to assess the extent of the brain injury and there were fears the keeper would be unable to return to professional football.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in traumatic brain�injury

Posted by Timothy Walters

Scientists discover memory loss threshold in boxers

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:58:44 GMT

Scientists discover memory loss threshold in boxers

There is a threshold at which continued brain injuries caused by repeated blows to the head sustained in combat sports begin to effect memory and thinking.

This is the conclusion of new research due to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Study author Charles Bernick, of the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland and the American Academy of Neurology, explained currently "little is known" about how the process of developing degenerative brain disease occurs.

While experts have already proven a link between repeated blows to the head and an increased risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, when this begins to appear is still unclear.

The results of the study revealed boxers who have been competing for more than nine years and fought in a high number of fights per year were more likely to have a poor outcome on memory and thinking tests than those taking part in fewer competitions.

It was also found that cognitive decline begins well before symptoms emerge, with fighters beginning to lose brain volume around six years after they start competing.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by John Sherrington

Teens in Oregon risk brain injuries by playing asphyxiation game

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:04:19 GMT

Teens in Oregon risk brain injuries by playing asphyxiation game

One in 16 teenagers in Oregon in the US has put themselves at risk of suffering a brain injury or even death by playing a dangerous game that involves putting pressure on the neck.

New research published in the journal Pediatrics revealed two-thirds of those who admitted taking part in the "choking game" had done so more than once.

A survey of 5,000 eighth-graders found more than a quarter had played at least five times.

The game involves inflicting high pressure on the neck so as to cut off the blood circulation to the brain, which puts an individual at risk of death, seizures, brain damage and fatal head injuries if they hit their head as they pass out.

Robert Nystrom of the Oregon Public Health Division in Portland, who worked on the study, said: "The more times you repeat something like this, the better the chance of a bad outcome."

The US charity The DB Foundation aims to deter children from taking part in the game by implementing awareness and educational programmes in schools across the country.

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Posted by Matthew Dixon

Brain injury survivor promotes cycling helmets

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:03:07 GMT

Brain injury survivor promotes cycling helmets

A cyclist who suffered a brain injury after falling from his bike has appealed to other enthusiasts to ensure they wear a helmet.

Gary Clayton told the North-West Evening Mail how he had to be airlifted to hospital after his landing off a ramp jump went wrong.

The 30-year-old sustained bruising to the brain and believes his injuries could have been far worse if he had not been wearing a helmet.

"It saved me, the helmet did save my life. If I didn't have the helmet on, I could have split my head open. I feel very,very lucky," Mr Clayton stated.

As a result of his experience, the London Film Academy student is urging other cycling enthusiasts not to risk serious injury by forgoing headwear on vanity grounds.

There is currently no law in the UK that states cyclists must wear helmets, but doing so is advised by many medical experts.

News brought to you be Serious Law specialists in acquired brain injury

Posted by Paul Breen

Brain injury unit to open in Bedford

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:10:13 GMT

Brain injury unit to open in Bedford

A specialist brain injury unit designed for treating young people who have suffered head trauma is to be unveiled at a care home in Bedford.

Ranc Care Homes is to open Manton Heights Care Centre at the end of the month and prospective residents are invited to an open day on April 19th, the Times and Citizen reports.

Regional manager Zora Johnson said: "This is a brand new purpose built care facility, which will accommodate 79 service users who may suffer with one or more conditions that means they are unable to look after themselves."

Elderly people with dementia and those who are too frail to live alone will be welcomed at the centre, along with youngsters who are suffering the effects of a serious brain injury.

A similar clinic is to soon be unveiled in Hampshire, with the Southern Daily Echo recently reporting Kingfisher House in North Baddesley will be home to a specialist head trauma unit.

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Posted by Matthew Dixon