What prognosis can we expect for a head injury patient?

Question:

A few days ago my brother, a long distance truck driver, had a heart attack while driving and ran the truck off the road, where it rolled several times. He survived the accident (he was wearing a seat belt), but suffered a head injury. He was rated as extremely critical upon arrival at the hospital and stopped breathing a couple of times. His coma was rated very low, near death. However, four days later, he's still considered comatose, but he's able to follow some directions and can speak some. Today he was able focus his eyes on someone and answer some simple questions. Does anyone have any experience with head injury patients and can tell us what to expect as to his chances of recovery or how much he can recover?

Answers:
no one can predict what the damage is, they can tell you the severity but not what is affected and how badly. this will be a slow process, take it easy with him and don't push, let him recover in his own time. there are things you can do to 'stimulate' his mind though, photos, objects from home he holds dear, recordings from family and friends. i was in a care accident years ago and went through the windshield and suffered a subdural hematoma, basically bleeding inside the skull...it caused some damage, mostly speech and recall issues. i have had three concussions over my lifetime including this one and mostly i just struggle with getting words out, not stuttering because i know what i want to say but there's just a break down in the connection from brain to verbalization. that major head trauma was 30 yrs ago. i had an uncle who died a few years ago of natural causes but he was in wwII and was the only survivor of 10 a plane crash, he was in a coma for 8 years and one day he just woke up and spoke his wife's name (although she had divorced him 5 yrs earlier because the doc's said he would always be a vegetable and there were no detectable brain waves) anyway, he just woke up and within a few weeks with rehab mainly for his limbs from lack of use he was out of the va hospital and home talking and walking as normal . he did lose the majority of his eyesight and he had what they call a permanent shunt inserted into his skull (its basically a tube that drains the fluid buildup - i guess its to do with the type injury he had) other than that he was very able and lived well into his 80's when he died of natural causes. so who knows what will happen for your brother, he has sustained two major traumas but a lot depends on his fighting spirit too. i would just encourage you and your family to love him and keep talking to him about everything, childhood and family memories, family happenings, holidays...really anything that could trigger a positive response. reading his favorite books to him whether he seems to respond or not is good too. i remember after my concussion that i could hear all that was going on around me but i could not respond so i think deep down he will hear you. good luck.

I don't know what to tell you but you all will be in my prayers. My younger brother was in and ATV wreck on Aug. 30, 2006 he also stoped breathing, had bleeding of the brain and several other problems. he had emergancy brainsurgery and now he is perfectly fine every now and then he has a minor brain fart but he has fully recovered by the grace of god. I know that your road a head will be hard and you wil think that you cant go on but you will judt keep trying and hoping, never ever give up on him and hopefully everything will work out. i feel so sorry for you all because I know what you are going through. And if you or anyone in your family needs someone to talk to just email me I will be here if you need me. You all and your brother will be in my prayers. Good Luck. Remember I am here for you all if you need.

What prognosis can we expect for a head injury patient?

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