Soldiers Story Of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an assault to the brain, which damages the tissue and can interfere with nerve signaling and communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.4 million Americans experience a TBI each year. About 50,000 of the victims die and 235,000 are admitted to the hospital.

In the U.S., the most common causes of TBI are falls (28 percent of cases), traffic accidents (20 percent) and assaults (11 percent). Risk for TBI is higher among males and those under five or between 15 and 19.

A brain injury can range from mild to severe. Mild TBI can cause a brief loss of consciousness, headache, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, sleep problems, behavior changes, and problems with memory and thinking. In more severe cases, a patient may also experience a severe, persistent headache, nausea or vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness, limb weakness, restlessness or agitation.

While many people with a TBI eventually recover, about 5.3 million survivors have some type of lingering disability. The long-term effects depend upon the location and extent of the injury and the patient's own ability to recover or participate in rehabilitation. Some common long-term problems associated with severe TBI include: memory problems, difficulty with communication, sensory processing problems (problems with vision, hearing, etc.) and behavioral problems (like anxiety or aggression).

TBI in Combat Soldiers On March 18, 2003, the U.S. military began the invasion of Iraq. Major combat operations ended on May 1, 2003. However, the struggle continues. More than 2,000 soldiers have died in the Iraqi conflict. The exact number of wounded isn't known, but is reported to be above 18,000.

One serious problem associated with combat injuries is traumatic brain injury. Military physicians are seeing a greater number of TBIs in the Iraq war than in any other recent U.S. conflict. Researchers estimate 22 percent of wounded soldiers being treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany have head, face or neck injuries. By comparison, about 12 to 14 percent of soldiers in the Vietnam conflict were treated for head injuries. Part of the reason for the greater number of those treated for TBI in Iraq stems from better management of the injured in the field (75 percent or more of the Vietnam soldiers died from their head injuries and never made it to the hospital).

The second reason for the greater number of brain injuries revolves around the protective gear used by the soldiers. Body armor and helmets protect the body and much of the head from bullet and shrapnel injuries. However, not all of the face is protected. And the helmets are unable to protect the brain against the severe forces created by a blast from a roadside bomb or suicide bomber. So while the body is often protected from deadly chest or abdominal trauma, the head is still somewhat vulnerable to injury.

A bomb blast is particularly devastating to the head and brain. The intense air pressure can cause a concussion or brain bruising - even without penetrating the skull. Tiny air bubbles can enter the blood vessels and block the flow of blood to the brain. The force of the blast can also propel fragments, vehicle parts and even body parts into the head.

One Soldier's Struggle to Recovery Ramiro Martinez was traveling with fellow soldiers to a meeting at another base when a suicide bomber attacked his convoy. The bomber's truck hit Martinez's vehicle and the blast left him with severe burns to the hands and face. A piece of scrap metal was embedded into the left side of his brain.

He was initially treated in a field hospital and sent to Germany for further evaluation and treatment. Martinez finally ended up in a Medical Army Hospital in San Antonio, where he began his journey to recovery.

Martinez has received intensive rehabilitation therapy. He had to learn how to walk again and gain use of his hands. Doctors initially told him it would take six months or longer until he would be able to walk. However, by using the mental training from the military and loving support from his wife and children, he managed to walk within four months. He no longer needs to use a cane for support, and he is slowing regaining the use of his hands. Martinez hopes to be able to walk faster and eventually start jogging sometime next year.

The road to recovery for injured soldiers is often long and difficult. Some speed through rehabilitation quickly and adapt well to residual problems or disabilities. Others go through a painstaking, slow recovery.

For information about the military operations in Iraq and the Middle East, http://www.defenselink.mil

For information on traumatic brain injury: Brain Injury Association of America, http://www.biausa.org National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov