Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

Birmingham scientists trial breathalyser test to diagnose concussion injuries (12 September 2014)

Date: 12/09/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Birmingham scientists trial breathalyser test to diagnose concussion injuries

Researchers at Birmingham University are trialling a test which will help improve diagnosis of concussion after a sports injury.

BBC News reports that Professor Tony Belli and colleague Dr Michael Grey unveiled details of the test at British Science Festival held in Birmingham.

“Return to play” decisions after head tackles in sport have in the past contributed to more serious injury in some players.

The Birmingham neurosurgeons are trialling a breathalyser test which in laboratory trials detected chemicals released in the bloodstream after brain injury occurred.

Further trials will establish whether the same “markers” for brain injury can be detected in the breath of athletes who may have sustained a serious concussion.

Prof Belli said:

“These biochemical compounds from the brain can be measured in a number of different fluids – for example, saliva and breath.

“At the moment, a breathalyser is tuned to detect alcohol – but you can re-engineer it to detect other things; and you need to refine the technology at the same time to detect very small amounts.”

Concussion symptoms after an impact to the head can be wide ranging, including dizziness, nausea, headache, confusion, lapsing into unconsciousness, as well as movement, speech, sight or hearing impairments – and blood or fluid in the nose or ears, indicators of a fractured skull.

Concussion injury can be classified as mild, moderate and severe. However, in some cases, symptoms may appear mild or even nonexistent at the time of injury. But a concussion injury can progress rapidly from being mild to a severe or even life threatening or fatal injury if a blood clot develops and is undetected at the time of injury.

Detecting serious brain injury early is therefore vital to a good outcome for the traumatic brain injury patient.

In sports, assessing the severity of a head impact injury and deciding a player is fit enough to return to the field can result in a potentially tragic outcome if symptoms of serious brain injury are not immediately diagnosed, such as a blood clot or fractured skull.

The most accurate test currently available for assessing the extent of brain injury is a brain scan.

Current sports assessments are based on observation and psychological tests. In some cases, players have returned to the field of play and collapsed later as a result of a serious brain injury that was not immediately apparent.

Prof Belli said that with a breathalyser test, the “tell-tale” markers in the bloodstream which may also be detectable in a player’s breath could be tested for within five or 10 minutes of a head impact and give an accurate diagnosis of the extent of brain injury.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Sports Injury Claims, Brain Injury Claims & Concussion Compensation Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise on making a no win no fee claim as a result of a sports injury, brain injury or concussion injury that was caused as a result of the negligence of another party – or was undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Personal Injury claimants usually have three years from the date of injury in which to make a no win no fee claim for compensation – minors have three years from the age of 18 in which to claim.

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can also advise the families of those who are unable to make a brain injury claim themselves on how to claim on their behalf, including compensation claims for fatal injuries.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Sports Injury Claims, Brain Injury Claims & Concussion Compensation Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.