Being involved in an accident with a semi-truck means that you might suffer from injuries. In some cases, such as when one of the injuries that you suffer is a concussion, the symptoms of the injury might not occur right away. That can make it difficult for doctors to make a diagnosis quickly after the accident. In fact, in the case of a concussion, getting an accurate diagnosis might not be possible at all.
Doctors currently use a CT scan to help them to determine if a patient has a concussion. There are two primary problems with this. The first is that CT scans expose patients to radiation. The second is that CT scans aren’t all that accurate when used to help diagnose concussions.
A research paper that was recently published in JAMA Neurology, a prominent medical journal, noted that a blood test might be helpful in diagnosing concussions. The blood test detects the level of GFAP, a protein that is only present in the bloodstream when the patient has suffered from a brain injury.
Interestingly, GFAP is a biomarker that is detectable from shortly after the accident and up to a week after the accident. This means that seeking medical care within that week could lead to the diagnosis of a concussion with more accuracy than the current method that relies largely on a doctor making an educated guess.
Getting a proper diagnosis is important after an accident involving a semi-truck. Not only does this ensure that you get the care you need, it also helps you to build your claim for compensation in Wisconsin.
Source: NH Voice, “Simple Blood test could help detect concussion risk a week after injury,” Emma Tiller, March 30, 2016
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