By Jennifer Bucholtz, Faculty Member, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science at American Military University
In the past, the military’s approach to diagnosing head injuries was very limited. Military members were only screened for a concussion or brain injury if their head came into contact with a stationary object or if an object hit them in the head. It took years for medical personnel to realize that the force of a blast wave – the rapid increase in air pressure resulting from an explosion – can result in similar brain damage, or even worse.
A blast wave causes the skull to flex, where the brain is pushed against one side of the skull, and then rebound back in the other direction. The human brain undergoes a sudden change in intracranial pressure resulting in damage to axonal pathways, which are crucial to a healthy nervous system, and capillaries, which help supply blood to the brain cells. This damage can result in long-term impairment, such as behavioral abnormalities, reduced impulse control, emotional outbursts, violence, and even suicide.
In 2013, I completed my master’s thesis in forensic sciences. As a combat veteran, I chose to study traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in military service members, specifically those suffered after the concussive blast wave of an explosion. After completing my thesis, I wrote a summation article on my findings.
Full story: Advancements in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries in military soldiers
