The accident and injury attorneys at Howell Law know that brain injuries can be the most devastating and least recognized disability that anyone can experience. More is being learned about these injuries because so many of our troops at war are unfortunately sustaining these injuries.
Brain injuries have quickly become one of the most common injuries of the war. An estimated 20% of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is caused by the impact of improvised explosive devices.
According to medics of the Fort Drum-based 10th Mountain Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, there has been an increase in cases of TBI in the past eight months.
TBI is an injury that can’t be immediately seen, which makes it very difficult to diagnose. The army uses a technique called MACE, Military Acute Concession Exam, in order to find symptoms, which can include concussions, whiplash, memory loss and severe headaches.
Medics say that the increase in TBI cases is a very serious problem in Afghanistan. If a soldier is hit by an improvised explosive device three times, they may be taken off patrols and put on light duty, which is in turn putting a strain on U.S. forces.
Source: NY daily News-“Soldiers’ brain injuries from blasts in Afghanistan take a toll”- Sept. 20, 2009