Minor Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Fast Turning Into Epidemic

With over 1.4 million people suffering from minor traumatic brain injuries annually, the syndrome is fast assuming the characteristics of an epidemic. In majority of the cases the patients suffer head injuries that changes their though process as well as their mental status, though temporarily. The result more often than not is change in the level of consciousness that may give rise to various behavioral deficiencies. A study reveals that most of these injuries result from motor vehicle accidents that is also the most prominent cause of joint and bone injuries. "Musculoskeletal injuries are often seen concurrently with some studies estimating that 50 percent of patients with orthopedic injuries also sustain an mTBI," says Richard L. Uhl of Albany Medical Center. One of the problems is treatment of mTBI is that the symptoms do not appear immediately and might surface much later when the victim resumes his or her normal day to day functions. This also contributes to growing incidences of minor traumatic brain injuries.