Formula 1
What does a "diffuse axonal injury" mean for Jules Bianchi?
The Bianchi family has this afternoon issued a statement with the latest update on Jules Bianchi's condition following his accident on Sunday and s...
Edited: Oct 7, 2014, 7:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Motorsport Blog
Motorsport Blog
The Bianchi family has this afternoon issued a statement with the latest update on Jules Bianchi's condition following his accident on Sunday and subsequent surgery to a severe head injury.
The statements says: “This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us. We would like to express our sincere appreciation.
"Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident.
"We are also grateful for the presence of Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, and Professor Alessandro Frati, Neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari. They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules’ treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family. Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues."
The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate.”
This website has spoken this afternoon to a leading London brain surgeon, who informed us that a diffuse axonal injury means that there is no specific area of sharp focus in the brain which has been damaged. In other words it's not like an area of depression which would be caused by a blow from a hammer. It is a non-direct injury where the head decelerates and rotates. Typically the risk is nerve fibres being damages, there are often areas of bleeding.
Surgery isn't always done on this type of injury; Bianchi did have surgery on Sunday night and doctors will now be monitoring the pressure inside his skull. If that does not escalate and when it stabilises, then within 1-5 days they will reduce the anaesthetic and see if he wakes up, then they will take it from there.
We are told that with diffuse axonal injuries, 48 hours after the accident is very early to make any predictions on the outcome; some patients go on to make a full recovery, some do not. It's rather like dropping a computer on the floor and turning it back on, there can be a wide range of results.
Top Gear TV presenter Richard Hammond is a good example of a patient who made a recovery from a diffuse axonal injury and he woke up after around one week.
That said, the announcement that it is a diffuse axonal injury at this stage is painting "quite a bleak picture", according to our surgeon contact and it is clearly going to be a long and difficult road to recovery for Bianchi.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Official statement: Bianchi suffered a diffuse axonal brain injury
Next article Japanese GP: Behind the chaos some cool decision making under pressure
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
3 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe