The role of diffuse axonal injury in medical assessment of brain injured patients

The concept of diffuse axonal injury is presented and the relevance in medi colegal assessment of brain injured patients is discussed. The lesion patte rn of diffuse axonal injury not only plays a significant role in the acute management and rehabilitation of brain injured patients but also in issues of litigation. Brain imaging techniques are most important in the evaluatio n of structural damage to the brain and play a pivotal role in the detectio n of diffuse axonal injury. While computer-tomography follow-up studies may be valuable for the detection of diffuse axonal injury, magnetic resonance imaging is superior due to better sensitivity and contrast-resolution. The article presents selected case studies and illustrates the different lesio n patterns.