According to a Practical Neurology report published in April 2023, an estimated 463,392 service members of the United States sustained at least one traumatic brain injury. The estimate specifically counts the brain injury statistics of service members between 2002 and mid-2022.
Further, the report informed that out of those traumatic brain injury cases, only 1% were categorized as severe while 82.3% were mild. A small fraction, precisely 4.5% was “not further classified”. While this is one study, other reports indicate a wild discrepancy in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) statistics.
On March 28, 2023 (Monday), the Department of Defense (DoD) revealed its findings regarding its screening, management, and evaluation of TBI cases. Well, according to the Pentagon's inspector general, the DoD lacks a definite count on the actual TBI victims, their treatment, and their current physical and mental well-being.
The DoD report showed inconsistencies and disclosed that it was currently unable to accurately identify, track, and treat brain injury cases across the US forces. One of the leading neuroradiologist-nuclear medicine physicists, David Douglas, laid his opinion on the matter.
He highlighted that the existing discrepancies in the military health systems are leading to inadequate screening and tracking of troops with TBI. As a revered neuroradiologist with a strong background in diagnostic radiology and interventional radiological procedures, he emphasized that TBI cases require accurate evaluation and tracking to facilitate timely treatment and healthcare to troops.
He delved into the consequences of neglecting adequate medical support and timely intervention for TBI patients in the US forces. He believes that the results of TBI could accompany soldiers and service members in the following years.
Some of the untreated TBI troops could be experiencing chronic TBI symptoms, which include irritability, heartbeat irregularities, unstable blood pressure levels, frequent nausea, and memory loss. Douglas fears that unacknowledged TBI in the troops could plague the US forces until it brings the military health system up to speed with the ongoing technological advancements and demand.
Enabling a swift and more accurate military health system will correspond with adequate healthcare facilities and medical services for TBI and other service-related injuries. The dire consequences of lacking necessary medical assistance on behalf of the government and DoD could translate into various personal and professional issues for troops outside service.
TBI symptoms can drastically reduce the quality of life due to physical and mental unwellness. Furthermore, it can negatively impact job performance once the troops pursue employment following the end of their service.
Douglas believes that creating an active TBI monitoring and tracking program can create room for more advanced solutions. Accurate diagnostic imaging, such as CT scans and MRI modalities infused with spatial imaging and depth perception features can significantly enhance the diagnostic capability of the forces.
In addition, he emphasized the significant advancement in 2D and 3D imaging for diagnosing and identifying brain injuries in the troops. However, the road to enhanced diagnosis and adequate medical assistance will begin with improvement in the military’s current capability to acknowledge and treat TBI.
About Douglas, he served in the US Air Force as an Active Duty Lieutenant Colonel. He was also an Assistant Professor at Stanford University and an active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). He is a neuroradiologist-nuclear medicine physician who completed his B.S. in physics from the US Air Force Academy and M.D. from Georgetown University.
