New Drug May Improve Outcomes For Victims Of Traumatic Brain Injury

December 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) New drug may improve outcomes for victims of traumatic brain injury

A new study reveals how a new delivery system for the drug Etanercept may improve the physical and mental health of those struggling with a traumatic brain injury up to 115 months after the injury occurred.

Research shows drug may improve outcomes

The Institute for Neurological Recovery has completed a study, published this October, of over 629 people who suffered a stroke or TBI. The study took place over two years. The researchers found statistically significant evidence that a new delivery of the drug Etanercept improved cognition, spasticity and motor impairment in both stroke and TBI victims.

In the new delivery method, Etanercept binds to inflammatory immune molecules in stroke and TBI victims and neutralizes them, often months after the stroke or injury occurred. The stroke victims in the study were treated with the drug an average of 42 months after their stroke and TBI victims were treated an average of 115 months after their injuries. The findings were promising since they made improvements in patients long after the initial injury, outcomes that are not expected in current TBI and stroke treatment.

A brief overview of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injuries are injuries to the brain after a blow to or piercing of the skull. They can be relatively mild, like concussions, or severe, like major trauma after a car accident or gunshot wound. These injuries can cause physical, mental and emotional side effects like headaches, confusion, dizziness, numbness in extremities, irritability, loss of coordination and memory, difficulty concentrating and even mood and personality changes.

Victims of TBI often face a long road to recovery. Those suffering from severe TBI may begin medical care in a hospital's intensive care unit and then move to a rehabilitation center. Once released after weeks or months in a rehabilitation facility, TBI victims continue to recover with therapy and social support at home.

Now, the new delivery system for Etanercept may improve the outcomes of this rehabilitation and may even be able to shorten the time it takes a victim to recover from his or her injuries.

Determining liability for TBI

Often, TBI is caused by an accident or other incident for which another party is at fault. For example, someone may suffer a severe TBI from an accident caused by a drunk driver or in a workplace accident caused by a poorly maintained job site.

In these cases, the people or companies whose neglect or recklessness caused the accident can be held liable for any injuries that result. The injured party must prove a connection between the neglect and his or her injury to recover damages, including compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering and lost wages.

If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI as a result of another negligence or recklessness, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

Article provided by Johnston, Moore & Thompson
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