What Are the Causes and Effects of Brain-Stem Injuries?

What Are the Causes and Effects of Brain-Stem Injuries?

Ryan Zavodnick | March 27, 2023 | Brain Injuries

The brain is one of the most important organs in the entire human body. While the brain has many parts, the brain stem is one of the most critical, as it has several components and serves many essential purposes. 

A brain stem injury can substantially and detrimentally affect a person’s health and ability to live a normal life. If you or a loved one suffer a brain injury, seeking monetary recovery from the party responsible may be possible. 

What Is the Brain Stem, and What Is a Brain Stem Injury?

A brain stem injury causes trauma to the brain stem, which is located at the base of the skull above the spinal cord. Because of its location, the brain stem is susceptible to injury, and trauma to this area can cause substantial issues, even death.

The brain stem connects the brain and the spinal cord and transports messages throughout the body. Additionally, the brain stem is one of the most important parts of the body, as it is responsible for critical functions that help keep you alive. 

The brain stem is separated into three crucial areas, all with their own functions:

  • Midbrain: The midbrain sits at the top of the brain stem. It plays a key role in muscle movement
  • Pons: The pons is below the midbrain. This area serves as a bridge between the cerebellum and the spinal cord and helps control several things, including balance 
  • Medulla oblongata: The medulla sits at the bottom of the brain stem. It is responsible for many life functions, including breathing and heart rate

Injury to the brain stem can have a significant impact. Depending on the type of injury and the area of the brain stem affected, a brain stem injury can affect many important life functions and result in other serious long-term effects. 

Common Causes of Brain Stem Injuries

Brain stem injuries can occur for several reasons but most often happen as a result of accidents. Some of the common causes of brain stem injuries include:

When someone’s negligence or intentional actions result in a brain stem injury, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injury and subsequent losses. Pursuing justice after a brain stem injury can help with the undue financial burden you’re likely to experience. 

Potential Long-Term Effects of Brain Stem Injuries

Unfortunately, because of how fragile the brain stem is, injuries often affect a person’s health and life in the long term. Some of the most common long-term effects of brain stem injuries include:

  • Coma: When the brain stem is injured, the reticular activating system, which is responsible for the ability to wake up, can be affected, resulting in a coma
  • Vegetative state: A person’s eyes may be open or closed, but they cannot communicate, respond, or react in a meaningful manner
  • Minimal consciousness: Falling in and out of consciousness
  • Confusional state: In this state, a person is awake but does not have full control over their behavior
  • Locked-in syndrome: This condition results in full-body paralysis except for the eyes

Even if a person is able to recover from a brain stem injury, it is not uncommon to suffer from health issues, like respiratory problems, issues with swallowing, sensory deficiencies, and motor difficulties.

If you or a loved one have suffered a brain stem injury at the hands of another, you may have a valid personal injury claim. Personal injury claims allow you to pursue justice and compensation for the other party’s wrongdoings.

While it can feel stressful and overwhelming to handle a brain stem injury claim alone, an experienced personal injury attorney can help handle every critical task. Along with providing much-needed advice and guidance, a lawyer can fight for financial recovery and help you obtain the desired outcome. 

Contact Our Brain Injury Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case

To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.