brain swelling

My son hit a man on a motor cycle who wasn't wearing a helmet. He (Randy, man who was hit) was coughing up blood at the site and is in hospital with swelling of the brain amd broken vertabrae. Is this something that can be treated?

[caregiver222]

There is a short window of opportunity to treat such injuries. Treatment options consist of pharmaceuticals to decrease swelling, steroids, drilling weepholes in the skull to provide fluid drainage and carbon dioxide therapy, If a period of time passes without this treatment taking place irreversible brain damage is common.

Since hospitals have been recieving "Trauma" designations and the specialty of emergency medicine has come into it's own the protocols and outcomes have improved, but many facilities, unfortunately, are still discovering the wheel.

Coughing up blood is probably from ribs penetrating the lungs.

Broken vertabrae will heal, however is the spinal cord is damaged or transected by movement of the fragments permanant paralysis or quadraplegia may result.

Hopefully things will turn out well for the poor fellow.