When people in Northeast Wisconsin think of a brain injury, they likely think of a blow to the head, a fall, or even a sudden shake or other force that causes a severe jolt in the head or neck.
These are all examples of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs for short. They are indeed very serious. In the worst case scenario, they can leave a Wisconsin resident in a permanent coma or otherwise disabled for the rest of her life.
However, there is another type of brain injury that can have the same effects. As is the case with the rest of one’s body, the cells in the brain cannot survive without oxygen. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for any length of time, then a hypoxic or anoxic brain injury can result.
The only difference between the two types of injuries is that, in the case of an anoxic injury, the brain receives no oxygen, while in the case of a hypoxic injury, the brain receives insufficient oxygen.
This type of brain damage is also rightly called a catastrophic injury. Even if someone should escape the worst-case scenario, someone who experienced hypoxia or anoxia may experience problems with his memory, attention span, communication and emotions. He may also have physical problems doing even basic things like sleeping and going to the bathroom. His vision and balance may also be affected.
Hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries happen for a number of reasons. In some cases, the negligence of another person, a property owner, the manufacturer of a product, and the like, can be responsible for this type of injury. For those victims in Northeast Wisconsin, law firms that handle catastrophic injuries claims are available to assist victims with obtaining compensation.