US army introduces new checks for roadside bomb brain injuryRSS Feed

The US army is set to begin pulling troops caught near roadside blasts out of combat to check for traumatic brain injury.

Speaking to USA Today, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Michael Mullen underlined the importance of treating possible brain injury, however mild, early on.

He told the newspaper: "Very clearly, we're sort of taking it out of their hands.

"The sooner you're able to treat somebody and get it right, the higher the probability you'll reduce the long-term impacts."

US army chiefs' commitments to pull soldiers out of combat for 24 hours, even when troops claim not to have any problem, is consistent with recent findings from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, which suggests that mild traumatic brain injury is more dangerous than is widely believed.

The study indicates that mild brain injury, commonly called concussion, can result in persistent neurological problems, which can cause an "enormous emotional and financial toll" on society.

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