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Treatment may help restore motor functions after TBI

On Behalf of | Aug 25, 2016 | Catastrophic Injuries |

On behalf of Bremseth Law Firm PC posted in Brain Injury on Thursday, August 25, 2016.

Being a victim of a serious accident can be very devastating on an individual’s body, mind and well-being. Whether it’s an automobile accident, motorcycle crash, slip-and-fall accident or any other personal injury incident, victims are likely to suffer much trauma. One area of the body that could be severely impacted is the head. A head injury often means a brain injury, and in cases where an accident victim suffers a traumatic brain injury or TBI, he or she might suffer temporary or even permanent disabilities and impairments.

TBI sufferers in Minnesota and elsewhere often seek methods and treatment options to reduce the affects of the injury. In some cases, a TBI could significantly impact motor functions, much like a stroke or a neurodegenerative disease affects the motor cortex. When assessing the impacts on and impairments of fine motor control of the hands following a TBI, researchers have developed a treatment that could help restore these functions.

According to this study, inosine, which is a naturally occurring chemical released by cells as a response to metabolic stress, could help restore motor control after a brain injury has caused damage to the motor cortex area of the brain. Following positive evidence from a rodent study, researchers conducted a study on rhesus monkeys.

Brain injuries were caused in the area controlling the favored hand of each monkey. Four of the monkeys received the inosine while the remaining four received a placebo. After a 14-week recovery period after surgery, it was discovered that three out of the four treated with inosine returned to their pre-operative grasping methods.

Currently, inosine has been used in clinical trials for humans suffering from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, proving to be safe in doses up to 3,000 mg per day. It has been claimed that inosine is effective at promoting growth of brain cells; however, there still remains a need for clinical trials for those suffering a spinal cord injury.

While this brain injury treatment method has proven to be effective in animal trials, it may take some time until victims suffering a TBI will be able to use this method to recover. No matter the severity of a TBI, it is likely that the injury seriously impacts the life of the injured as well as his or her loved ones. The rehabilitation of such an injury can be costly, and if a negligent party caused the injury, the victim may have legal recourse to recover compensation.