LETTERS: HELMETS IMPROVE SAFETY

To the editor:

I am a neurosurgeon practicing in Cape Girardeau. I read with interest your Feb. 25 front-page article, "Brain injury frustrates couple." In the story a physician opined that "a helmet wouldn't have offered any protection in that situation and probably would have made things worse."

I am writing to express concern regarding the issue of helmets and their role in preventing brain injury. The article gives the impression that wearing helmets may increase the chances of brain injury. I am not disputing the circumstances of Mr. Hutchison's accident and the possibility that the absence of a helmet may have helped him. I am concerned with the message this article may give to the public. It is my firm belief from treating countless head injuries that helmets significantly decrease the risk of head injury and sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

In addition, the operation performed on Mr. Hutchison is described as an "emergency partial frontal lobotomy." I would suggest researching the exact procedure he had, since a lobotomy has not been performed as a neurosurgical procedure for quite some time.

Despite the noted concerns, the article was very helpful in educating the public about the frustrations involved in brain-injury treatment. The cognitive deficits along with the lengthy recovery time for nervous-system injuries make for very difficult rehabilitation indeed.

In Cape Girardeau, we have two fine hospitals where the acute treatment of head injuries is state of the art, as well as an inpatient rehabilitation unit with a brain-injury program. I am happy to report that many brain-injured patients do improve, albeit slowly, and are able to regain meaningful lives.

DR. KEE B. PARK

Cape Neurosurgical Associates

Cape Girardeau