Galveston brain injury conference 2010: Clinical and experimental aspects of blast injury

Brent E. Masel, Randy S. Bell, Shawn Brossart, Raymond J. Grill, Ronald L. Hayes, Harvey S. Levin, Matthew N. Rasband, David V. Ritzel, Charles E. Wade, Douglas S. Dewitt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blast injury is the most prevalent source of mortality and morbidity among combatants in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is a common cause of mortality, and even mild BINT may be associated with chronic cognitive and emotional deficits. In addition to military personnel, the increasing use of explosives by terrorists has resulted in growing numbers of blast injuries in civilian populations. Since the medical and rehabilitative communities are likely to be faced with increasing numbers of patients suffering from blast injury, the 2010 Galveston Brain Injury Conference focused on topics related to the diagnosis, treatment, and mechanisms of BINT. Although past military actions have resulted in large numbers of blast casualties, BINT is considered the signature injury of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The attention focused on BINT has led to increased financial support for research on blast effects, contributing to the development of better experimental models of blast injury and a clearer understanding of the mechanisms of BINT. This more thorough understanding of blast injury mechanisms will result in novel and more effective therapeutic and rehabilitative strategies designed to reduce injury and facilitate recovery, thereby improving long-term outcomes in patients suffering from the devastating and often lasting effects of BINT. The following is a summary of the 2010 Galveston Brain Injury Conference, that included presentations related to the diagnosis and treatment of acute BINT, the evaluation of the long-term neuropsychological effects of BINT, summaries of current experimental models of BINT, and a debate about the relative importance of primary blast effects on the acute and long-term consequences of blast exposure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2143-2171
Number of pages29
JournalJournal of Neurotrauma
Volume29
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • blast injury
  • blast-induQced neurotrauma
  • neurocritical care
  • traumatic brain injury

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