Will Gov Suntai Pass "IncapacitationTest"? Speculations have been rife ever since the Governor of Taraba State, Danbaba Suntai, got involved in a plane crash, whether he would ever regain full control of his faculties or not. The governor was the pilot of his own jet Cessna 208, 5N-BMJ Jet that crashed in Yola, Adamawa State on October 25, 2012. Barely 48 hours after, he was transferred to the National Hospital Abuja, following injuries sustained in the plane crash in a state ambulance, with his head heavily swathed with bandages.. Suntai was flown out of the country as he was reported to be in coma, to a hospital in Germany where he spent six months and thereafter to Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home, where he finally came back to the country on Sunday after a four- month stay. “It is difficult to speculate on the exact diagnosis of the head injury suffered by the governor,” says an Abuja-based consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Biodun Ogungbo. According to him, “Indications are that Suntai may have suffered a closed head injury since he did not require any brain operations before his rapid transfer to Germany for further treatment. However, he was largely unconscious as reported in the media.” Ogungbo described Suntai’s type of brain injury as Diffuse Axonal Injury. He explained, “This is actually one of the most common types of injuries, but also one of the most severe types that can lead to death. It is called diffuse because unlike some other brain injuries that are focal, in one generalized area; this type is widespread affecting a larger area.” Furthermore, he says, “since this type of injury is not caused by a direct blow to the brain, but more like a severe shaking of the head/ brain, the effect is much more dangerous. Diffuse axonal brain injury is caused by the movement of the brain within the skull. The shaking leads to tearing of many nerves in many parts of the brain. Once those nerves are torn, the communication within the brain is disrupted and the links between nerves are broken. Thus, functions such as movement, speech, and even those that support life can cease. “The symptom that is most evident from this type of brain injury is mainly unconsciousness. Survival from this type of injury depends on the severity and the early management. The job of doctors in the early stages is to protect life, prevent death and reduce any further damage to the brain. This is done through supportive measures such as breathing for the patient and ensuring that the pressure inside the brain is reduced.” The brain surgeon stated that recovery from this type of injury is also variable. According to him, some patients can make a full recovery and be able to return to their previous activity, while others are, however, permanently damaged and have residual effects such as speech problems, confusion, headaches and difficulty walking. “Certainly, such injury leaves psychological effects such as anxiety, memory problems and poor executive functioning. Changes in personality, behaviour and seizures can also occur in survivors of severe brain injury.” ------------------------------ --------------
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 21:23:32 +0000
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