Head Injuries and Diving

[Eee]

Hiya,

Just having some thoughts.... A friend of mine had a serious car crash in April, went through the windscreen and ended up under the car he hit... Had serious head injuries that required surgery to remove glass etc from his brain. Then spent the next 4 or 5 weeks in a coma....

He is now making a fantastic recovery and is well on the mend...

During his surgery they had to remove a section of his skull, and was wondering if anyone had any information on

1. How this would effect his diving?
2. If he could ever dive again (not that he remembers learning to dive at the mo)?
3. If he can dive again what is the general time scale (I understand this is on an individual basis and at the advisement of his neurologist)?

My take on it is that I'd be very surprised if he could dive again, Although I know of at least one diver who has a similar portion of skull missing and still dives. I've also talked to a Dive doc I know and his take is a min of 5 years...


Just wondering


Eee

[ChrisP]

One of the real worries here is the risk of post head injury epilepsy. This is why it is generally advised that one waits 5 years after a serious head injury before diving. But there are other issues that need to be considered like the degree of recovery and remember that even if the person appears normal afterwards there has still been brain damage which will reduce their ability to recover from another episode of brain damage such as a DCI hit.
By all means listen to the advice of his neurologist but on diving matters he should liaise with someone from the UKSDMC list of Medical Referees.
As you rightly say it is very much an individual case decision.

[Clare Gledhill]

DJL on the boards - he's gone to Saudi now but still drops in from time to time - had a very serious accident which resulted in head injuries (as well as many other injuries too) He returned successfully to diving despite similar problems to your friend's although a recent operation left his sinuses a little delicate and he is having to, again, monitor his progress carefully.

I think I am right in saying he was initially told that he would face a long time out of the water but a sympathetic specialist who was willing to work with him helped overcome this. I am sure that he would answer some questions- PM him

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

One of the real worries here is the risk of post head injury epilepsy. This is why it is generally advised that one waits 5 years after a serious head injury before diving. But there are other issues that need to be considered like the degree of recovery and remember that even if the person appears normal afterwards there has still been brain damage which will reduce their ability to recover from another episode of brain damage such as a DCI hit.
By all means listen to the advice of his neurologist but on diving matters he should liaise with someone from the UKSDMC list of Medical Referees.
As you rightly say it is very much an individual case decision.

This is why i listen to my PERSONAL Diving Doc ........

My boat seems to be full of head cases......from time to time ....

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by Gledders

I think I am right in saying he was initially told that he would face a long time out of the water but a sympathetic specialist who was willing to work with him helped overcome this.

I would strongly advise that the "sympathetic specialist" has diving medicine experience and is not just a specialist in his field.

[ray]

Hi.

Following a motorcycle crash which put me in bed for 7 months, a part of which was a broken head, didn't stop me from eventually diving, but it explains a lot of other things I suppose!!!!!.