KC (patient) - Accident and Neurological Damage

Accident and Neurological Damage

In October 1981, KC was involved in a single-vehicle accident on his way home from his job at the manufacturing plant when the motorcycle he was riding veered off of an exit ramp. He suffered a traumatic brain injury. Upon arrival at a hospital, KC was experiencing clonic epileptic seizures and was unconscious. Surgery to remove a left-side subdural hematoma was successful. After a few days in the hospital KC was able to respond to simple commands. After one week he was able to recognize his mother. A follow up CT scan revealed a chronic bilateral frontal subdural hematoma, enlarged ventricles and sulci, and left occipital lobe infarction.

Upon arrival at a rehabilitation facility, KC was able to recognize friends and family, but still exhibited slower thinking ability, as well as partial right side paralysis and vision problems with his right eye. Upon his discharge from the rehabilitation facility in July 1982, the full extent of KC’s neurological injuries was determined. He has severe injury to his medial temporal lobes, along with almost complete bilateral hippocampal loss. Ultimately, his neurological profile has stabilized, as seen in CT scans he has received once a decade since the accident.