New Advances in Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnosis

Jan. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- For Canadians under the age of 44, the number one cause of death and disability is brain injury. The Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association estimates that 55,000 Canadians suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year.

Brain injury can occur suddenly and without warning, changing your life in the blink of an eye. Everyday events like riding in a car or playing baseball, produce risks for sustaining a serious brain injury. Impact, internal damage, and loss of oxygen can all result in traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

Although the effects of TBI are not always visible, they can result in lasting physical, emotional, intellectual and social changes: imagine not being able to remember lifelong friends or having to rely on others to plan your day. Long-term effects, such as high costs and a common need for life-long care, can place enormous emotional and financial stress on the survivor's family.

Distinguishing true brain damage from the effects of migraine headaches, pain elsewhere in the body, medications, depression, or preoccupation with social and financial stress can be a formidable task.

Symptoms of Brain Injury:
•   Excessive sleepiness
•   Inattention and difficulty concentrating
•   Slowed thinking and impaired memory
•   Faulty judgement
•   Depression and irritability
•   Emotional outbursts
•   Disturbed sleep
•   Diminished libido
•   Difficulty switching between multiple tasks

The extent and the severity of cognitive neurological dysfunction can be measured with the aid of neurological tests that examine the structure and function of the brain. Diagnostic imaging can be used to detect the most common types and patterns of injury to help classify TBI and is the first step in making an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s evolving condition.

False Creek Healthcare Centre is home to the most advanced MRI available for clinical use in Canada: a system that has proven critical in the diagnosis of subtle brain injury cases.

Our radiologists and technologist employ these advanced methods to diagnose mild to severe cases of traumatic brain injuries:

Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI)
A method used to detect micro-bleeds, hemorrhage, and iron storage.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
A method used to detect damage to the nervous system.

Spectroscopy
Measures chemical levels in the brain. A decrease in levels of certain chemicals indicates damage to the brain.

Learn more about Traumatic Brain Injury MRI and Diagnosis http://www.falsecreekdiagnostics.com/services/traumatic-b...

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