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Diggers' helmets take a knock in traumatic brain injury study |
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Herald Sun |
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COMBAT helmets worn by soldiers in Afghanistan provide little or no protection from traumatic brain injury, a study has revealed. Brain injury is a mystery of modern warfare and some experts believe that it is a key factor in rising suicide rates among war veterans. A team of researchers examined the impact of a blast wave against an unprotected head, a head wearing a helmet, and a helmeted head fitted with a face shield. Results showed that the helmet offered little to protect soldiers from blast-induced brain injury. Researchers used computer simulations to gauge the effect of a blast and found that a visor on the front of the helmet would cut injury rates by dissipating shock waves. Australian brain injury experts welcomed the research conducted by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. Australian Brain Injury Centre director Christian King said American forces at least had statistics on brain injury rates. He said both the US and UK were much more open about the subject than Australia. "There has been no research done on brain injury among Australian troops and we have no statistics on injury rates," Mr King said. "It is very much a case of out of sight, out of mind." Mr King said the brain only had to travel a few millimetres to collide with the skull and be damaged. More than 16,000 Australian troops have served in Afghanistan and Mr King estimated that up to 5 per cent, or about 800, could be suffering from undiagnosed traumatic brain injury |