About 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those TBIs, an estimated 75 percent are classified as mild. However, Nevada residents or others who experience a head injury could suffer from significant symptoms such as headaches or dizziness for weeks or longer. In an effort to provide better diagnoses of mild TBIs, researchers recently studied the white matter of male college football and rugby players.
White matter was observed in study participants by using an MRI process called multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT). Participants included 11 football players and one rugby player who had experienced mild TBIs and 10 others who had not been injured and did not participate in contact sports. Participants were examined within 72 hours of their diagnoses and again three months later.
Researchers found that those who had participated in contact sports had a higher myelin water fraction (MWF) compared to the control group during both examinations. Furthermore, the MWF of those who had been diagnosed with mild TBIs was higher three months after sustaining the injury. Researchers believe that this is the result of a remyelination process. However, they also mentioned that they couldn’t confirm what the change in MWF meant.
Those who experience concussions or are otherwise injured in an accident may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit. If the party responsible for the injury was negligent in causing it, the injured victim could be entitled to compensation. Compensation may be available to help a victim pay for short and long-term medical care or to make up for lost wages or future earnings. Cases may be resolved in court or through a negotiated settlement.
