brother involved in head on collision on March 22, 2013

[vickiweis]

My brother was involved in head on collision.  On Interstate going 80 plus mph..  The vehicle that hit him was on the opposite side of interstate.  She swerved to miss a raccoon and lost control of the vehicle, came across the median and hit my brother head on.  She passed away.  My brother did not see it coming, which saved his life pretty much, so says the Dr's. cause he did not have time to tense up.  He has many injuries. both legs shattered.  Almost lost both of them.  Lost top of left calf muscle and tendons.  They had to pull lower calf muscle and tendons up and around to compensate and be able to graft skin on the open wounds.  Left hand shattered.  Diaphragm ruptured.  lungs severely bruised.  About the only thing they said he did not hurt was his brain. But he did have bruising all the way across his forehead..And on that note.  He is not the same person he was before the accident.  He is off all IV's.  only pain meds he is on now is Oxycontin.  he is being moved from ICU finally to regular room.  My question is this, he did have bruising on his forehead.  But no memory loss at all.  He knows who everyone is.. My brother has always been a very caring loving husband and brother.  But at the moment, he is not himself.  He is being very hateful, thinking we are trying to kill him.  He thinks his wife is cheating on him.  Just overall not my brother..Does anyone know if Oxycontin could make him be this way, or could the impact of the crash, even though he had his seatbelt on and an airbag. could the brain hitting the skull of caused some frontal lobe damage that could change his personality?

[vickiweis]

Thank you, Dr. Kaul.  

Seems that the problem was what the Dr.'s referred to as ICU psychosis.  This has since passed.  He is coherent and in his right mind again.  Seems the only thing we are worried about now, is if they can keep an infection that has set into his badly injured left leg from getting worse and them having to amputate.  He is lucky to still have it at this point.  His foot was hanging on only by tendons once they removed him from the car.  Whole leg crushed and shattered.  Lots of titanium and screws holding it all together.  That is what we are all hoping for now.  Infection being rid of and him keeping the leg... Thanks so much for your response...