In neurotrauma cases, time is of the essence; seconds could mean life, death, permanent brain damage or paralysis. That’s why PBNI physicians work at nearby trauma centers with specialists to collaborate and offer neurotrauma care 24/7.
As the only trauma centers in Palm Beach County, Delray Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center partner with the Palm Beach County Healthcare District and local EMS professionals to provide lifesaving emergency and trauma services to the communities we serve. The trauma physicians and surgeons at these hospitals work closely with our neurosurgeons, neurointerventionalists and neurologists to treat critical neurotrauma cases that most often involve serious injury to the brain and spinal cord.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Injuries to the central nervous system resulting in traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) are the types of injury most likely to result in death or lifelong disability. Nationally, about 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury and 11,000 persons are hospitalized for spinal cord injury each year.
The number of people surviving after a serious neurological injury has increased in recent years. This increase in survival rate is attributed to improved pre-hospital care and centers of excellence specializing in the treatment of these injuries.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Spinal cord injury results from an injury to the spinal cord and surrounding blood vessels or structures. It is commonly associated with spinal fractures. Spinal cord injury may result in permanent or temporary loss of motor, sensory or autonomic function below the level of the injury. In the United States, 190,000 persons live with a spinal cord injury and 11,000 new injuries occur each year.
Our Neurotrauma Team Approach
For any type of suspected injury to the brain or spinal cord, patients are quickly evaluated based on injury. When patients are brought to the hospital by an EMS provider or ambulance, Delray Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center’s trauma teams receive critical information on the patient’s condition to ensure that the team has the ability to provide immediate care upon the patient’s arrival. If necessary, the centers can quickly call on our PBNI physicians to provide comprehensive care in a seamless fashion. The hospitals have a supportive team of surgeons, critical care and internal medicine physicians, specialized nurses and therapists and rehabilitation professionals and services to provide the highest quality in the continuum of care for patients that experience neurotrauma.