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Broken Lower Rib Cage. X-ray Showed Bleeding In Brain. Difficulty Speaking, Phlegm Discharge. Help
My brother had an accident back in July 27, 2012. He was knocked unconscious
with broken lower rib cage (left and right). The front main rib also broke, so with the
Neck bone and injury to the back (spine) bone. The x-ray showed bleeding in the brain.
The doctor said his heart was still pumping (very weak) when admitted to the emergency room. Under intensive care unit oxygen help him to breath better. He was feed by milk
through the nose. My brother was able to regain consciousness 1 week after doctor
stopped injecting sleeping drug to his system.
After 2 weeks doctor cut a small hole in his throat and oxygen was tubed through the neck instead of the mouth. Phlegm kept coming out from time to time and the nurse had to suck out the phlegm through the throat.
He was able to breath on his own after 40 days. He is able to smile nod his head but
His hands and legs are not responding yet. He until now is not able to speak.
Until now he is not able to eat through his mouth the throat still has a hole. Phlegm is
bothering him keep coming out, I hear if patient don’t eat normally more phlegm keep
coming out.
His main problem- brain is not controlling all his limps, unable to talk and eat normally through the mouth.
Where can I seek help?
with broken lower rib cage (left and right). The front main rib also broke, so with the
Neck bone and injury to the back (spine) bone. The x-ray showed bleeding in the brain.
The doctor said his heart was still pumping (very weak) when admitted to the emergency room. Under intensive care unit oxygen help him to breath better. He was feed by milk
through the nose. My brother was able to regain consciousness 1 week after doctor
stopped injecting sleeping drug to his system.
After 2 weeks doctor cut a small hole in his throat and oxygen was tubed through the neck instead of the mouth. Phlegm kept coming out from time to time and the nurse had to suck out the phlegm through the throat.
He was able to breath on his own after 40 days. He is able to smile nod his head but
His hands and legs are not responding yet. He until now is not able to speak.
Until now he is not able to eat through his mouth the throat still has a hole. Phlegm is
bothering him keep coming out, I hear if patient don’t eat normally more phlegm keep
coming out.
His main problem- brain is not controlling all his limps, unable to talk and eat normally through the mouth.
Where can I seek help?
Thu, 25 Jul 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
From the given description it is evident that your brother suffered TRAUMATIC QUADRIPLEGIA (unable to move both upper and lower limbs).
The main stay of management in quadriplegics is rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation protocol for these patients is as follows -
* Passive physical therapy should be given to help prevent the muscles from becoming atrophied.
* Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) - FNS stimulates the intact peripheral nerves so that the paralyzed muscles will contract.
Quadriplegia causes so many complications which needs careful management.
The below mentioned entities needs to be taken care of
* Bowel and bladder care
* Preventing the development of pressure sores
* Preventing the development of blood clots in the legs (DVT)
* Addressing the respiratory problems
* Maintaining the muscle tone by moving them passively and preventing joint contractures.
The final outcome after traumatic quadriplegia depends on the extent of damage of the spinal cord (whether its partial damage or complete cord injury)
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
From the given description it is evident that your brother suffered TRAUMATIC QUADRIPLEGIA (unable to move both upper and lower limbs).
The main stay of management in quadriplegics is rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation protocol for these patients is as follows -
* Passive physical therapy should be given to help prevent the muscles from becoming atrophied.
* Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) - FNS stimulates the intact peripheral nerves so that the paralyzed muscles will contract.
Quadriplegia causes so many complications which needs careful management.
The below mentioned entities needs to be taken care of
* Bowel and bladder care
* Preventing the development of pressure sores
* Preventing the development of blood clots in the legs (DVT)
* Addressing the respiratory problems
* Maintaining the muscle tone by moving them passively and preventing joint contractures.
The final outcome after traumatic quadriplegia depends on the extent of damage of the spinal cord (whether its partial damage or complete cord injury)
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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