What is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is often technically defined as a severe injury of the following types, or some combination of them:

• A spinal cord injury (SCI)
• A traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• An injury to the skull, including a skull fracture

Catastrophic injuries are also often classified with respect to their outcomes. Broadly, the outcomes can include:

• Fatality that may result from the initial trauma or from indirect causes related to the initial trauma, such as systemic failure during exertion or from cardiac issues.
• Catastrophic injuries are those that result in traumatic brain injury, severe head and neck trauma, spinal cord injury or skull injuries that demand wide-ranging acute, rehabilitative and post-acute care. Re-learning of activities of daily living (ADLs), specialized rehabilitation and supported living. Often, this level of catastrophic injury results in permanent injury requiring long-term residential rehabilitative care.
• Catastrophic injuries that result in traumatic brain injury, severe head and neck trauma, spinal cord injury or skull injuries but where, after appropriate acute- and post-acute care, the individual is able to perform a wide range of his or her activities of daily living and regain independence.

But those are just the medical, definitional ways of explaining a catastrophic injury. There is so much more to the definition that is more important. A catastrophic injury, in its fullest sense, affects the entire individual, not just the parts of his/her body that do not function as before. A catastrophic injury affects the individual’s entire being — memories of a pre-injury life, how he/she envisions the future, his/her ability to and manner of dealing with family and friends, and in so many other ways.

Regardless of the mechanics of the injury, that is the real meaning of a catastrophic injury. Therefore, it is a little different for every individual. As it should be. A catastrophic injury is one that proves to be catastrophic to the individual. Not a textbook definition.

NeuLife’s multidisciplinary team of physicians, therapists, RNs and others are acutely aware of that. And because of it, the post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife is different. Better. Customized for each client. Innovative. Developed to achieve maximum, sustained outcomes.

The professionals at NeuLife, including its team of neurologists, RNs and therapists are expert in the provision of innovative, clinically relevant services, including the development of a customized Client Goal Plan, and providing neurobehavioral and neurorehabilitative services. NeuLife’s goal is to provide post-acute rehabilitation to its clients with a goal of achieving the best possible outcome for its clients who have even the most difficult and challenging diagnoses.

NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence. NeuLife seeks to achieve, for all of its clients, maximized, sustained outcomes that exceed the expectations of all persons served.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is a fully accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757