Concussion Brain Scans
One of the major obstacles in presenting and proving that somebody has sustained a permanent brain injury from a concussion is that such brain damage does not show up on a typical MRI or CT scan, much less an x-ray. However, some recent developments have provided some exciting evidence in this regard. There is something called DTI imaging which is a software program that can provide a picture of the disruption in a human brain caused by concussions. The software program works in combination with a very high tech MRI scan using something called a 3T MRI scanner. The results can actually produce a three dimensional image showing the human brain and showing the areas which are not functioning properly as a result of the injury. There are a select few facilities in the entire United States which have and understand this technology. Most recently here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area a well-known medical imaging facility has acquired this scanning capability and has made arrangements with doctors in California and Alaska who can interpret the results.
This is extremely significant news for anyone considering litigating a concussion case.