Abbott, a medical device manufacturing company, has created a handheld device that allows doctors to test for traumatic brain injuries (TBI). This groundbreaking technology allows doctors to test patients for traumatic brain injuries in less than 15 minutes. The implications of this test will be far-reaching. Doctors can use the device to shorten the time it takes for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries, allowing doctors to begin treatment quickly.
Patients Often Struggle to Get Quick, Accurate TBI Diagnosis
Researchers have compared the test to a “blood test for the brain.” Until now, doctors have needed to rely on subjective measurements to determine whether a patient has a TBI until the patient can undergo more time-consuming medical tests. Now, doctors only need to draw blood and test it to determine whether the patient has experienced a concussion or TBI. Every year, over 2.87 million people go to the emergency room with injuries that could be TBIs.
In many cases, patients who have a mild TBI, called a concussion, continue to deal with ongoing symptoms while waiting for a proper diagnosis. Typically, doctors use a physical examination and ask patients a series of questions to determine whether they have a TBI. Sometimes doctors request a CT scan to evaluate the patients’ TBIs. Now there is an objective way to evaluate TBI injuries.
After a doctor or nurse draws the patient’s blood, they will extract plasma from the blood and analyze it. Urgent care centers and emergency rooms will benefit from this quick testing procedure. They will ensure that only those with a concussion or TBI go on to receive an MRI or CT scan. They will be able to free up more time for those who need a scan. Now people who do not have a TBI can leave the emergency room or urgent care without sitting for three hours waiting to receive a head CT.
As with any test, there is always a chance that the patient could have a false negative. It is vital that physicians do not rely on the diagnostic test entirely, but that they continue to use their clinical judgment. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that as many as 50% of concussions go undiagnosed and undetected. Those who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries can suffer ongoing symptoms, contrary to popular belief. Patients with concussions should receive the treatment they need as quickly as possible, and this test should help.
New Brain Injury Test: Contact a Missouri TBI Lawyer
Every year, thousands of Americans experience traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, many traumatic brain injuries are entirely preventable, and they occur because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness. If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury or concussion because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. You may be entitled to compensation. Contact Griggs Injury Law today to schedule your free initial consultation.
