The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center—Providing Care for Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury
America's armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained numerous attacks from weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices and land mines. Soldiers suffering injuries from these devices require specialized care from providers experienced in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) continues to provide leading edge care, conduct clinical research and offer education programs on TBI for active duty service members and veterans.
Sixty-four percent of soldiers recently wounded in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom sustained blast injuries, according to the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army. Such injuries are a major area of focus for the program, which operates at seven military and VA sites and one civilian treatment site. Headquartered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—the site that receives more casualties from theaters of operations than any other military treatment facility—DVBIC is at the forefront of efforts to screen and treat soldiers for TBI.
Unlike penetrating head injuries, closed head injuries such as those often resulting from blasts may not be diagnosed immediately. At Walter Reed, DVBIC's expert clinical staff review daily incoming casualty reports and identify patients who have sustained injuries caused by blasts, falls or motor vehicle crashes. From January 2003 to January 2005, Center staff evaluated and treated 437 TBI patients from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
One of the Center's primary objectives is to utilize results from the research it conducts to develop evidence-based standards of care. Along with this effort, DVBIC staff developed a screening process that has proven invaluable in identifying individuals who have sustained mild traumatic brain injury in association with other injuries that were initially the focus of medical attention.
Although recovery from mild injuries (concussion) is generally uncomplicated and complete, some individuals will continue to experience cognitive or mood difficulties. These injured soldiers require specialized care from providers skilled in treating TBI, and treatment provided by Center staff focuses on returning patients to the highest level of function possible.
DVBIC is leading the initiative to provide evidence-based guidelines for assessment and follow-up care after blast-related TBI within the military environment. By continuing to carry out expanded clinical interventions aimed at identifying and treating TBI, the program is working to ensure maximum military readiness.
For additional information consult the The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center website.