Brain injuries can be very difficult to live with. They can also be very difficult to treat. A person who suffers a brain injury might suffer from swelling of the brain. In this case, the cerebrospinal fluid might accumulate between the brain and the skull. If that occurs, the doctors might choose to monitor the intracranial pressure and try to drain fluid if the pressure is elevated.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Brain Injuries on Thursday, December 10, 2015.

Brain injuries can be very difficult to live with. They can also be very difficult to treat. A person who suffers a brain injury might suffer from swelling of the brain. In this case, the cerebrospinal fluid might accumulate between the brain and the skull. If that occurs, the doctors might choose to monitor the intracranial pressure and try to drain fluid if the pressure is elevated.

Monitoring intracranial pressure might involve invasive methods. These invasive methods actually serve two purposes — monitoring the pressure and providing a way to relieve some of the pressure. There are three primary methods used to monitor intracranial pressure. Each of these three ways requires a hole to be drilled in the skull. The catheter and screw methods can both monitor and drain pressure in the skull. The sensor method can only monitor the pressure but doesn’t allow for a way to relieve the pressure.

If the pressure inside of the skull is above normal limits, removing the extra pressure is critical because permanent brain damage can occur if the pressure isn’t relieved. Increased pressure in the skull can stop the blood supply to the brain. That pressure can have a negative impact on the way that the brain heals after the brain injury.

If you suffered from a brain injury, you might opt to seek compensation for the injury and the effects of the injury. There are several points that you have to determine when you are seeking compensation. All of these points, including who was liable for your accident, can play an important part in your case.

Source: Baylor Scott & White Health, “Intracranial Pressure Monitoring,” accessed Dec. 10, 2015