This month, the Chicago personal injury lawyers of Passen Law Group have been focusing on the many types and causes of traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury in connection with national Brain Injury Awareness Month. Today, we take a closer look at encephalomalacia, a serious form of brain injury that can occur at birth or throughout life.
Encephalomalacia, also known as cerebromalacia, is the softening of brain tissue. It can be caused either by vascular insufficiency, and thus insufficient blood flow to the brain, or by degeneration. Encephalomalacia can be the formation of necrosis, or dead tissue, in a portion of the brain due to a partial complete blockage of blood flow to the area, which in turn can be caused by a natural condition or by infection or trauma (TBI). The term encephalomalacia is also used at times to refer more generally to degenerative conditions affecting the brain. If the condition affects the white matter of the brain, it is called leukoencephalomalacia. If it affects the gray matter, it is known as polioencephalomalacia.
An individual suffering from encephalomalacia will experience a number of symptoms, all of which involve a loss of function. These symptoms can include somnolence (extreme drowsiness), blindness, ataxia (wobbliness and lack of coordination), sleep walking, head pressing, circling, and, eventually, terminal coma. Also, depending on the location of the softened tissue, there can be different effects. For example, softening in the frontal lobe can lead to memory loss and mood swings.
If you, a family member, or a friend are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If your symptoms are the result of encephalomalacia, not only is it important to obtain the proper treatment, but it is also important to determine the cause of your condition. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have extensive experience working with patients and doctors to understand how encephalomalacia occurred in a particular case, and whether legal action is warranted. Where a brain injury was caused by the negligence or malpractice of another individual or entity, our attorneys will ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive full compensation available under the law.
Encephalomalacia can result from natural causes, such as infarction; therefore, not all cases of encephalomalacia or similar injuries are compensable. However, the condition can also be caused by trauma, which in turn may be the result of negligence or reckless conduct. In adults, another common cause of encephalomalacia is complications from surgery, particularly brain surgery to correct other problems, such as tumors. If those complications were the result of medical negligence, the victim may have a legal action against the physicians, nurses, or hospitals involved.
Particularly common in newborns and infants is multicystic encephalomalacia, or the formation of cavernous cystsic in the brain after an injury. The most common cause of multicystic encephalomalacia, especially in infants, is hypoxia. The birth injury lawyers at Passen Law Group have discussed injuries from hypoxia in infants at length in connection with Brain Injury Awareness Month. However, infants can also suffer encephalomalacia due to trauma from, for example, the improper use of forceps at delivery.
In either case of encephalomalacia caused by hypoxia or trauma, a thorough investigation and analysis of the particular circumstances can help you determine whether your child’s injuries were the result of negligence, and whether the injuries are compensable. Our top Chicago brain injury attorneys can help you determine what caused your child’s brain injury and what claims you may have, identify all possible defendants, and obtain the compensation your child deserves to assist with future medical and emotional treatment.
For a free consultation with an experienced encephalomalacia lawyer at Passen Law Group, call us at (312) 527-4500.
Tags: Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer, Encephalomalacia Lawyer Chicago, personal injury attorney, traumatic brain injury
My son had emergency brain surgery in 2/10. He now has a shunt in his brain and tubing running dow his neck. He has cerebral swelling.
His surgery was at UC Davis, Sacramento.
Janet
I am worried about the post op care he is receiving.
if u are worried about the post op care,talk to the doctors involved ask questions. instead of running to these vultures hovering and waiting for doctors to make mistakes so they can make some money.
Thanks for your comment, Emily. Unfortunately, for children and families of those with permanent brain injuries caused by a doctor’s negligence, “talking” to the doctors after the fact is not going to help. It will not help compensate the family for the immense cost of treating the condition for the remainder of the child’s life. It will not help the family live some semblance of a normal life. Most importantly, it will not help to deter doctors and hospitals from placing their patient’s safety at unnecessary risk — in violation of their own agreed medical standard of care.
Three years ago, my wife (now age 71) had a left frontal temporal craniotomy to remove a meningioma which had wrapped around the optic nerve sheath. I was at the hospital before and after the surgery which was performed by Dr. Seiff at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, NV. The Dr. was very clear that he had done “thousands” of these procedures. After the surgery, Dr. Seiff told me the surgery had gone perfectly and my wife should have a full and uneventful recovery. My wife has not made a full recovery and in fact has more problems than before the surgery. She has suffered a continuing loss of vision; headaches; mild confusion at times; fainting and falling and mood swings. My wife seems to be changing before my eyes (we have been married for 48 yrs.) We live in a rural area with the nearest neurologist being 30 miles away. There is a good hospital where we live (Kingman, AZ) but there is currently no neurologist on staff nor is there a brain surgeon. When my wife went for her first follow-up visit with the surgeon she was more or less told that she would have to be patient and wait and see what happens. As time went by and my wife’s health continued to deteriorate, her surgeon more or less dismissed her complaints and suggested she see a psychiatrist. Dr. Seiff’s attitude changed as night to day as soon as the surgery was done and my wife was still having problems.
This entire surgery has been a nightmare for our family. As my wife was recovering in hospital (Sunrise Hospital) She contracted CDIF, a fact that was not revealed to her until they discharged her to avoid treatment. She was home (after a 100 mile ride in 110 degree heat) for only a few hours when she became seriously ill with diarrhea, vomiting, etc. We rushed her to the ER here at Kingman Regional Medical Center where they told us they couldn’t treat her because she had recently had brain surgery and they had no brain surgeon on staff. They sent her back to Sunrise in Las Vegas after doing an MRI that showed fluid on the brain. Unfortunately, my wife was transported by ambulance 100 miles back to the hospital that had just released her a few hours earlier. Since the ER doctor in Kingman neglected to send the MRI results with the ambulance, my wife lay in a hallway in the ER for 10 and one half hours while hospital staff told her variously to either be patient or shut up depending on who was on duty. I’m so angry I can’t say anymore.
Dan,
I am sorry to hear of what has happened to your wife. Feel free to contact our office if you’d like to discuss further.
Regards,
Passen Law Group
i am diagnosed with this and have a ton of questions and need help, please contact me
April,
If you developed your brain injury as a result of the wrongful conduct of another, we may be able to help you. Feel free to contact one of our attorneys at 312-527-4500 or info@passenlaw.com
Thank you.
I was a truck driver and had a accident (roll-over) and am under doctors care..43 years ago I had a craineotomy operation for a AV Malformation (birth defect). On 11/02/2010 I had this accident and am on work-comp at present and after see ing my personal doctor he advised a NERO-DOCTOR..for my head injury in the accident and wk-comp is saying the problems I’m having with balance, memory, and temperment is not a rersult of the accident but…ENCEPHALOMALACIA?..I never had these problems pre-accident and feel something caused this post-accident…I feel they are trying to get out of liabilitry(sp)…? They are sending me to a IME Doctor….Where do I stand? Thx-robert r. smith
Sir, Feel free to give us a call to discuss at 312-527-4500 or email info@passenlaw.com. Thank you.