Jan. 3, 2013 When initial computed tomography (CT) scans show bleeding within the brain after mild head injury, decisions about repeated CT scans should be based on the patient's neurological condition, according to a report in the January issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The study questions the need for routinely obtaining repeated CT scans in patients with mild head trauma. "The available evidence indicates that it is unnecessary to schedule a repeat CT scan after mild head injury when patients are unchanged or improving neurologically," according to the study by Dr. Saleh Almenawer and colleagues of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada. Are Repeated Scans Necessary after Mild Head Trauma? In a review of their hospital's trauma database, the researchers identified 445 adult patients with mild head injury who had evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) -- bleeding within the brain -- on an initial CT scan. In many trauma centers, it's standard practice to schedule a second CT scan within 24 hours after ICH is detected, to make sure that the bleeding has not progressed. To evaluate the need for routine repeated scans, Dr. Almenawer and colleagues looked at how many patients needed surgery or … Continue reading →

TWIN FALLS In three months, a former Twin Falls city councilwoman traveled more than 8,000 miles to raise awareness about brain injuries. Pam Dowd went to more than 20 states, visiting brain injury rehabilitation centers and families of patients recovering from brain injuries. The Boise resident, who lived in Twin Falls for more than 30 years, left on Sept. 22 and traveled across the country in a 34-foot motorhome. Now that shes back from her cross-country trip, Dowd is working to form a nonprofit organization called Brennas Hope Foundation. Dowds daughter, Brenna, died in 2011 at age 28. She suffered a medically unexplained anoxic brain injury in May 2010 after retina repair surgery. We fought for her recovery for 16 months, Dowd said. There was a time when Brenna could walk using a LiteGait machine. But flu season hit, and she couldnt leave her room. Dowd said the paperwork made it look like her daughter wasnt progressing, so she was cut off from therapy. Brenna suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and spent five days at a hospital. Read more: Former Councilwoman Pushes for Further Brain Injury Research … Continue reading →

Public release date: 3-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Connie Hughes Connie.Hughes@wolterskluwer.com 646-674-6348 Wolters Kluwer Health Philadelphia, Pa. (January 3, 2013) When initial computed tomography (CT) scans show bleeding within the brain after mild head injury, decisions about repeated CT scans should be based on the patient's neurological condition, according to a report in the January issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. The study questions the need for routinely obtaining repeated CT scans in patients with mild head trauma. "The available evidence indicates that it is unnecessary to schedule a repeat CT scan after mild head injury when patients are unchanged or improving neurologically," according to the study by Dr. Saleh Almenawer and colleagues of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada. Are Repeated Scans Necessary after Mild Head Trauma? In a review of their hospital's trauma database, the researchers identified 445 adult patients with mild head injury who had evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)bleeding within the brainon an initial CT scan. In many trauma centers, it's standard practice to schedule a second CT scan within 24 hours after ICH … Continue reading →