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What Causes Memory Loss After An Accident?

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Posted on Thu, 21 Jan 2016
Question: My wife fell when getting off a ski lift chair. She fell on her hip and was taken to the hospital. Immediately after her fall and once in the ambulance 20 minutes after her fall she was conscious and remembered her name and the basic questions asked. Once I arrived at the hospital 15 minutes later she got a CT scan for her brain and hips but lost her memory. She did not remember me or anything about herself. This happened two days ago and has recovered some of her memory but not completely. Is it normal to lose memory as a reaction to ct scan dye?
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Memory loss is not a reaction to the XXXXXXX used for the CT scan, that is not the cause.

As to what the cause actually is....one possibility is for it to have been due to the concussion. You do not mention whether there were any lesions found by the CT of the brain. However even if it hasn't found any visible lesion that doesn't exclude there to have been a temporary loss due to the stretching and the tearing of the nerve fibers which may cause a transitory disturbance in cognitive function. It may not be visible on the CT as there is not one single focus more of a widespread stretch of nerve fibers. The CT is used more to exclude lesions like hemorrhage and fractures which may require surgical treatment, while this type of concussion injury I mention doesn't necessitate or benefit from any particular treatment.
The other possibility is for it to be a post traumatic psychological reaction to the episode. If she feels well now again no treatment is necessary.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Memory Loss After An Accident?

Brief Answer: Read below. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Memory loss is not a reaction to the XXXXXXX used for the CT scan, that is not the cause. As to what the cause actually is....one possibility is for it to have been due to the concussion. You do not mention whether there were any lesions found by the CT of the brain. However even if it hasn't found any visible lesion that doesn't exclude there to have been a temporary loss due to the stretching and the tearing of the nerve fibers which may cause a transitory disturbance in cognitive function. It may not be visible on the CT as there is not one single focus more of a widespread stretch of nerve fibers. The CT is used more to exclude lesions like hemorrhage and fractures which may require surgical treatment, while this type of concussion injury I mention doesn't necessitate or benefit from any particular treatment. The other possibility is for it to be a post traumatic psychological reaction to the episode. If she feels well now again no treatment is necessary. I remain at your disposal for other questions.