Translational Understanding of Blast Effects (TransBlast)

Abstract

The TransBlast program is a prospective longitudinal study designed to rapidly advance understanding of blast-induced neurotrauma by closely coupling the biomechanical, medical, blast physics, and event measurement components into an integrated effort. The program will follow high-risk populations of service members to elucidate injury from both isolated and repeated events. Service members in the program are tested with a combination of imaging and neurocognitive functional exams prior to training, after training workup-but before deployment, and again after deployment. During training and deployed operations the service members wear blast dosimetry systems to document any exposures. All exposures are analyzed through detailed 3-dimensional reconstructions, combined with medical evaluations and testing records to determine the complex relationships between mechanical properties of blasts and the initiation of pathophysiologic responses. This effort builds on the successful deployment of the Blast Gauge measurement system in association with clinical indices of neurologic and psychiatric status to define a quantifiable relationship between timing and intensity of blast exposures and development and recovery of physiologic and clinic changes in an active duty population exposed to repetitive sub-clinical blast exposures and at an increased risk of involvement in clinically significant blast events.

Document Details

Document Type
Accomplishment
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2014
Source ID
ef11642261f596779cfc5181998c63f5

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.

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