By John Cooper, Brain Injury Attorney

Researchers have made a breakthrough in the use of bone marrow stem cells in treating traumatic brain injuries after the technique was found to be safe in treating children with brain trauma.

A team from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston determined the safety of stem cell use, Discovery News has reported.

The results of the clinical trial, featured in the journal Neurosurgery, focused on 10 children between the ages of five and 14 who received treatment shortly after arriving at the hospital with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

The team used bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells. Bone marrow cells are known to help restore blood and immune system functions.

After examining patients each day for the six months following the procedure, scientists concluded their technique was safe. They reported no deaths and improved outcomes when compared to the results of typical cases of TBI.

The research results come at a time when traumatic brain injuries are being highlighted during Brain Injury Awareness Month.

The use of stem cells is just one of the revolutionary approaches being followed to treat traumatic brain injuries.

Our firm recently highlighted how exposure to the cold, causing hypothermia is a possible way ahead in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

The possible benefits of hypothermia treatment were outlined in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008.

While new treatments are for traumatic brain injuries are being pioneered all the time, there appears to be a limit to what science can do to reverse the effects of traumatic brain injury.

Our firm has consistently highlighted ways people can give themselves more protection from brain injuries such as wearing a helmet on a motorcycle or leaving the playing field when they are concussed.

And in cases where a brain injury has been caused by negligence, fault or deliberate wrongdoing, we have fought tirelessly for our clients.

Our firm obtained the largest personal injury verdict in Virginia (VA) history as of 2000 — $46 million for a gas station attendant who suffered a brain injury and other orthopedic injuries when he was pinned inside a partly demolished gas station when a Norfolk Southern train derailed due to a wrong switch position.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law, and we have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office  in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA). Our attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. Our injury lawyers also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Furthermore, we proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as pro bono public information services. While not every brain injury case meets our criteria, if you or a loved one is thinking about taking legal action against a possibly at-fault person or company who caused your injury, call our office at (800) 752-0042 for a free consultation. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, be sure to leave a voicemail. We will return your call.