Testing for TBI

Diagnostic testing is an essential element of treatment for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and can have a significant impact on the outcome of any lawsuit undertaken to recover compensation for the injury.  The attorneys at the Oakland, California law office of Van Blois & Associates have decades of experience representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, and can advise on important considerations to take into account when undergoing testing.

A variety of tests may be ordered in order to diagnose the nature and extent of a TBI.  Some tests will likely be performed immediately as part of the emergency treatment and acute care of the patient, while later tests will monitor healing and determine a proper course for follow-up treatment and rehabilitation.

Neurologic tests may be used either to examine the structure or the function of the brain.  While some tests overlap in function, usually different tests are ordered based on which issues the doctor is looking to examine, the equipment available at a particular facility, and the risks associated with certain invasive techniques, such as the injection of radioactive dye.

Structural Tests

Magnetic Resolution Imaging (MRI) and Computerized-Axial Tomography (CAT or CT) scans view the structure of the brain by looking at multiple cross-sections of brain tissues.  Both tests can detect the bleeding in the brain, but have different sensitivities and differing abilities in detecting fresh blood versus old blood.  Generally, an MRI is more sensitive than a CAT Scan and provides more detailed images. 

A newer type of MRI known as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) can show damage to the white matter in the brain, which is present in Diffused Axonal Injury (DAI) resulting from high speed automobile collisions, falls from a great height, and other high-impact injuries.

Functional Exams

An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity in the brain, which can be used to diagnose the level of consciousness as well as the existence of lesions in areas of the brain.

A Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan maps the brain's vascular supply, which in turn provides evidence of damage to an area of the brain.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans measure glucose levels in the brain.

Evoked Potentials study electrical signals generated in the brain on the basis of external stimuli.

A spinal tap, also known as a lumbar puncture, can identify if there is any bleeding in the brain by the presence of blood in the cerebrospinal fluid that runs along the spinal column.

Neuropsychological Testing

A neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with particular expertise on how behavior, actions and abilities are related to specific areas or structures of the brain.  There are dozens of neuropsychological tests available that cover the entire spectrum of mental processing and cognition, including depression and mood, memory, and intelligence, and a battery of such tests can help identify the existence of brain damage and determine its nature and extent.

Neuropsychological testing results can vary dramatically depending upon when the tests are performed, so proper timing is a critical component of arriving at a complete and accurate picture of damage to the brain and consequently, an accurate picture of the costs of future care.  Issues surrounding the confidentiality of test results, and concerns about over-testing and early testing, can all impact a plaintiff's ability to obtain full recovery in a lawsuit. 

The lawyers at Van Blois & Associates have been assisting victims of TBI and other severe or catastrophic injuries for over 40 years.  We understand the particular legal and medical issues surrounding the timing of testing and its impact on the TBI case.  If you are the victim of a TBI and believe that your injuries are the result of another party's negligence or wrongful act, contact Van Blois & Associates today for a consultation.