Introduction to biomechanics


War Veterans and Traumatic Brain Injury

Each year the number of U.S. veterans* No treatments currently exist to cure
increases as soldiers returning fromlong-lasting  symptoms  of  TBI.
America's most recent wars come home.
However, as the survivors are welcomed homeFlawed  Brain  Injury  Technology
after pursuing a dutiful career serving their
country, a new generation of men and womenUnfortunately, as budgets are cut, the
suffering from mild- to severe-traumaticquality of care and technology also
brain injuries (TBI) are greeted with battleddecreases. Most recently the Government
medical budgets and flawed TBI technologies,Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed nine
which don't provide the necessary servicesVeterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and
and treatments required to improve theirfound that the TBI-screening test's validity
newly  developed  disabilities.and  reliability  may  be  flawed.
With an average of 1.4 million AmericansAdditionally, the report found that soldiers
undergoing some form of TBI, the number ofwith TBI may be receiving inadequate or
scientists and researchers striving to cureunnecessary care for their brain injuries,
these individuals should be ever increasing,according to an Associated Press article from
however, dwindling budgets continue toJanuary  2008.  The  report  found  that:
compress and squeeze war-related brain injury
funding. In 2006, the U.S. House and Senate* Although the VA has implemented TBI
slashed the allocated funding for the Defensescreening tools, the validity and reliability
and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) inof  the  tool  has  not yet been established.
half  from  the  previous  year.
* The VA has implemented a protocol to ensure
Traumatic brain injury has been deemed thesoldiers testing positive for TBI are
"signature" injury of the Iraq war, accordingadequately treated; however, many of the VA's
to military doctors and experts. It ismedical facilities either did not follow the
imperative for struggling soldiers to findprotocol  or  had  difficulty  doing  so.
assistance with their TBI-related disability.
* Culturally, the VA has found that Iraq
What  is  TBI?veterans feel the VA and its facilities cater
to elderly veterans and do not want to treat
Traumatic brain injury is defined as anyoung  veterans.
injury that occurs after an abrupt trauma
causes damage to the brain, according to the* The VA is struggling with poor rural access
National Institute of Neurological Disordersto medical centers as well as poor turnout
and Stroke (NINDS). War-related TBI can occurrates for injured vets who in some cases must
in many ways and individuals suffering fromdrive 100 miles plus to reach a nearby VA
this and related side effects will findhospital.
symptoms  vary  on  a case-by-case diagnosis.
Living  With  TBI
Researchers and scientists are, however,
finding several repetitive conditions andVeterans who are currently living with TBI
symptoms among TBI victims. The common signswill find that not only does TBI affect them,
and symptoms of these war-related conditionsbut the ripple effect among an injured
are as followed, according to a studiesveteran's family and friends is quite
published in the medical journals ofextensive. There are an array of clinical
Neuropsychology  and  Brain  Injury:trials that a TBI victim can become involved
in to improve the living conditions as well
* cognitive issues *decreased attentionas to treat the symptoms of TBI. Some of
span, including focused, selective andthese clinical trials can be found through
sustained attention problems *languagethe  following  organizations  Web  sites:
difficulties
* National Institute of Neurological
* lack of motivation *inability toDisorders and Stroke - Brain Resources and
efficiently  process  informationInformation  Network  (BRAIN)
*  irritability *depression  and  anxiety* Acoustic Neuroma Association Brain Trauma
Foundation
* increased fatigue *headaches *memory loss
or  disturbance* Brain Injury Association of America Family
Caregiver Alliance/National Center on
*  behavioral  issuesCaregiving National Rehabilitation
Information  Center  (NARIC)
*  disrupted  sleep
*  National  Stroke  Association
*  post  traumatic  stress  disorder
* National Institute on Disability and
In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBICRehabilitation  Research  (NIDRR)
testified to a Senate subcommittee that while
"body armor may save troops caught in blastsFinding  Brain  Injury  Assistance
it leaves many with brain damage," according
to a USA Today news report. Additionally, theThere are several organizations available to
article cited several disturbing statisticsoffer assistance specifically to those with
on  the  state  of  TBI  and  war  veterans.war-related ailments. The following are
several of the leading organizations
* 10 percent of all troops in Iraq sufferhospitals:
from concussions during combat. * 20 percent
of all frontline infantry troops suffer from* Walter Reed Army Medical Center Defense and
concussions  during  combat.Veterans  Brain  Injury  Center
*Scientists believe the Pentagon must screen* Defense Center of Excellence for
all  troops  returning  from  Iraq.Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain
Injury
*The Pentagon has declined screenings for all
returning troops and only screen a small* National Intrepid Center of Excellence
population  of  soldiers.Deployment  Health  Clinical  Center
*If left untreated or untested, multiple head*Center for Study of Traumatic Stress Center
injuries and concussions can cause permanentfor  Deployment  Psychology
brain  injury.
* The Department of Defense (DoD) also offers
Also, several equally disturbing statisticsa search component through their Web site to
have been reported from several specializedassist veterans in finding a veteran hospital
journals including Brain Injury, Internalin  their  geographic  area.
Medicine, Soldiers Magazine, MIT's Technology
Review and Perspectives in Psychiatric Care.Additionally, individuals enduring the pain
These  statistics  area  as  follow:of a war-related brain injury are encouraged
to locate an experienced traumatic brain
*Nearly 25 percent of all military veteransinjury lawyer who can provide assistance with
of the Iraq war are diagnosed with a mentaldeveloping a brain injury lawsuit. Because of
illness.the nature of these injuries, there should be
no reason why monetary compensation is not
* War-related TBI patients often manifestrewarded  to  an  injured  party.
distinct  personality  changes.
TBI medical bills can be extremely expensive,
* Of the 35,000 soldiers screened for TBI,and this potential for awarded compensation
approximately 11 percent have had symptoms ofcan provide relief from the stress associated
mild  TBI.with medical expenses.



1 A B C D 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 99 100 101 102