There is a huge range of brain injuries, even in the category of "traumatic brain injury." Some people who suffer such an injury can make great strides toward recovery. Some do not survive, while others are left with a severe disability or in a vegetative state.

New research is indicating a link between the amount of oxygen supplied to the brain, or the length of hypoxia, and the severity of one's injuries. A new study finds that low oxygen supply greatly increases the risk of death and disability in those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

The study, released in a recent issue of the journal Neurosurgery, took a look at 100 patients who had suffered traumatic brain injuries. Most of them had suffered blunt head trauma and bleeding in the brain. About 43 percent had negative results, with death, severe disability or a vegetative state.

For those patients, the average rate of hypoxia was 8.3 hours, according to HealthDay. However, for the patients who fared well, with no or moderate disability, hypoxia lasted an average of only 1.7 hours.

The data was clear, and researchers concluded that oxygenation was a clear predictor of how well or poorly patients would do. With each extra hour of hypoxia, researchers noted, patients were 11 percent more likely to experience poor results.

As a result, doctors are encouraged to carefully monitor brain oxygenation for patients admitted to intensive care units with traumatic brain injuries. The more researchers learn about this connection, the better treatment can get in the future.

Source: HealthDay, "After brain injury, oxygen monitoring vital, study finds," Nov. 11, 2011