West Virginia patients who suffer a traumatic brain injury may suffer from complications long after the incident occurred. If the injury is severe enough, they may even suffer from a brain tsunami, or sudden seizure-like waves of brain activity that can cause serious damage.

During a brain tsunami, patients can experience electrical signal voltage up to 10 times more than what is normal. These events can disrupt brain chemistry balance, an oxygen imbalance and a disruption of blood flow to the brain. In some cases, the brain can also short-circuit. In some cases, the brain tsunamis only last for a period of a few days, If the traumatic brain injury was severe enough, however, patients can potentially experience these events for up to a year or more following the initial accident.

Scientists who study brain tsunamis have linked these adverse events to patients who have reduced recovery following a traumatic brain injury. A nationwide study tracking brain tsunamis is being planned. The study will use non-invasive methods such as electrode EEG caps to track brain activity in post-surgical patients for seven days. It is hoped this study will assist with developing a TBI assessment as well as potential treatment.

While traumatic brain injuries are popularly associated with contact sports such as football and boxing, they can also be the result of a car accident or a sudden unexpected fall. When the injury has been caused by the negligence of another party, an attorney could be of assistance to a victim in seeking compensation for medical bills and other losses through the filing of a personal injury lawsuit.