Low Energy Falls and Traumatic Brain Injury

Why should a fall prompt consideration of a traumatic brain injury?

Falls, particularly in the young and the elderly, are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.

Why is it important to consider a traumatic brain injury when a low impact fall takes place?

• Individuals who experience falls, especially those considered low energy transfer events such as falls from ground level while standing or from low heights, rarely receive proper evaluation or treatment for traumatic brain injuries.
• A recent large-scale study, involving data from 56 acute trauma centers across 18 countries and over 21,000 individuals, challenges the assumption that the energy involved in a fall can predict the severity of intracranial injury or even death.
• The study revealed that the elderly, particularly females taking pre-injury blood-thinning medications, were most likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries from low-impact falls. This finding challenges the common belief that energy transfer determines the severity of brain injury.
• Falls are the leading cause of TBI in individuals over the age of 65. Age-related changes to the brain and blood vessels increase the likelihood of a significant intracranial injury and decreased recovery.
• Those who suffered from a low energy fall are as likely as those suffering from a high energy fall to have an abnormal CT scan, and equally likely to sustain significant morbidity and mortality.
• Most individuals who fall and sustain a traumatic brain injury never lose consciousness.

These important findings emphasize the need to be more vigilant in screening and assessing all fall victims, and especially the elderly for a traumatic brain injury.

And the best cure for any brain injury is prevention.

If you suffered a slip and fall in New York due to the negligence of a third-party or government entity, contact our experience slip and fall accident lawyers today for a free consultation.