Helmets May Increase Brain Injury Among American Soldiers

Recently, the American Institute of Physics reported a grave new discovery that U.S. soldier helmets may be acting as "focusing mechanisms" during improvised explosive device (IED) explosions and thus causing an increased risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among soldiers serving in the field of the Iraq war.

Scientists presented results from a study that attempted to better implement sensors onto helmets so that medical teams would receive improved "information for guiding triage and care immediately following a blast," according to news reports.

However, what scientists ended up finding was that following an IED explosion "shockwaves from a blast hits a helmeted head, and can penetrate the gap between the helmet and head, travel up inside the helmet, and come down on the side of the head facing away from the explosion." This would mean that due to the design of U.S. helmets, more soldiers are suffering from stronger blasts during explosions and increasing their risk of TBI.

While researchers are claiming that the redistribution of the blast pressure and the physics surrounding the new discovery may not be accurate, it would explain why TBI has become so prevalent among U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2005 that "helmets cannot completely protect the face, head and neck, nor do they prevent the kind of closed brain injuries often produced by blasts." Because of this and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research revealed earlier this year, it may be time for a redesign of helmets among soldiers.

Brain Injury and U.S. Soldiers

According to various news reports and physician statements, both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are "signature wounds" of the war in Iraq among American soldiers. With faulty helmet equipment now a potential risk factor, it may be necessary for a victim to obtain legal assistance regarding the development of a traumatic brain injury lawsuit.

A USA Today news article reported the results of a February 2008 Army health report which found that approximately 11 percent of 2,195 soldiers "showed signs of mild brain injury, but fewer than half were actually identified and evaluated in the field".

The New England Journal of Medicine published a similar article in 2005 stating that, "TBI appears to account for a larger proportion of casualties than it has in other recent U.S. wars." Many researchers and scientists believe inadequate protective gear and an increased number of IEDs may be to blame.

Caring For TBI Victims

It can be difficult for friends and family to provide adequate care for a veteran returning from the war in Iraq because of the extensive damage that may have been incurred by a traumatic brain injury victim. However, a bill is currently circulating within the U.S. House that would potentially provide monetary assistance for Iraq veterans and caretakers who often cannot afford in-home nurses and must work full time to care for an injured soldier.

In addition, victims of TBI may also need to develop litigation that will reward them with the monetary compensation necessary for paying for treatments as well as care, so the burden is not falling solely on family and friends. To learn more about the potential for a traumatic brain injury lawsuit individuals can locate a knowledgeable TBI attorney who will likely offer a free legal consultation as to the details and the development of such litigation.