TBI Prognosis

After receiving a TBI diagnosis, many patients and families want to know more about TBI prognosis, or what to expect in the long and short term following this type of injury. While it is best to discover your specific prognosis from your medical team, the following provides some general information on TBI prognosis.

Each patient's TBI prognosis will depend on several factors including the nature of the accident, the affected areas of the brain, the extent or severity of the damage, the quality of immediate medical attention and treatment, the consequences of potential complications, the patients overall health, and more.

TBI Prognosis-what the numbers say

While the numbers cannot indicate the outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injury, they can offer some basic insight into the consequences of TBI.

• Of the nearly 2 million people every year who suffer traumatic brain injury, less than five percent die.
• Furthermore, nearly 80 percent of those who suffer traumatic brain injury are treated and released from emergency medical care.
• However, one study found that at least 40% of those released experienced at least one unmet medical need during the first year following the injury
• Approximately 75 percent of TBIs are classified as mild traumatic brain injury, such as concussions.
• According to the CDC, more than 3 million people in the US have long term or permanent disabilities caused by traumatic brain injury.

Long-term prognosis of TBI

In many cases of mild TBI, a patient may experience a brief and temporary set of symptoms, from which they can fully recover in a matter of hours, days or weeks. In cases of more serious TBI, the prognosis can involve more long term and even permanent changes including functional, emotional, sensory, and cognitive impairment.

Furthermore, patients with a moderate to severe TBI are at an increased risk in brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders.

If you have questions about you or your loved one's prognosis after TBI, it is important to speak with your health care team who can explain what they perceive as potential course of your recovery. Furthermore, they can point you and your family to additional resources and professionals that can help you cope and manage the effects of traumatic brain injury.

While many people are able to recover from a TBI, others face long term or even permanent disability as a result of TBI. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses and suffering, including recovery of your long term care expenses and more. Please contact our qualified brain injury attorneys at Aitken, Aitken Cohn to learn more about your legal rights and options.