Working memory brain activation following severe traumatic brain injury

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown that brain activation during performance of working memory (WM) tasks under high memory loads is altered in adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) relative to uninjured subjects (Perlstein et al., 2004; Scheibel et al., 2003). Our study attempted to equate TBI patients and orthopedically injured (OI) subjects on performance of an N-Back task that used faces as stimuli. To minimize confusion in TBI patients that was revealed in pilot work, we presented the memory conditions in two separate tasks, 0- versus 1-back and 0- versus 2-back. In the 0- versus 1-back task, OI subjects activated bilateral frontal areas more extensively than TBI patients, and TBI patients activated posterior regions more extensively than OI subjects. In the 0- versus 2-back task, there were no significant differences between the groups. Analysis of changes in activation over time on 1-back disclosed that OI subjects had decreases in bilateral anterior and posterior regions, while TBI patients showed activation increases in those and other areas over time. In the 2-back condition, both groups showed decreases over time in fusiform and parahippocampal gyri, although the OI group also showed increases over time in frontal, parietal, and temporal areas not seen in the TBI patients. The greatest group differences were found in the 1-back condition, which places low demand on WM. Although the extent of activation in the 2-back condition did not differ between the two groups, deactivation in the 2-back condition was seen in the OI patients only, and both groups' patterns of activation over time varied, suggesting a dissociation between the TBI and OI patients in recruitment of neural areas mediating WM.     

盐酸多奈哌齐治疗轻、中型脑外伤后认知障碍的临床研究

目的探讨盐酸多奈哌齐对轻、中型脑外伤患者伤后认知障碍及临床预后的影响。方法本组轻、中型脑外伤合并认知障碍患者78例,随机分成治疗组和对照组,治疗组应用盐酸多奈哌齐,对照组应用吡拉西坦,两组的治疗周期为12周。治疗前及治疗后分别应用简明精神状态检测量表（MMSE）、国人修订成人韦氏智力量表（WAIS-RC）和格拉斯哥预后评分（GOS）评价疗效。结果两组治疗后12周MMSE和WAIS-RC评分均较治疗前提高（P〈0.05）。治疗组MMSE和WAIS-RC评分提高较对照组明显（P〈0.05）,治疗组GOS预后优良率优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论盐酸多奈哌齐对轻、中型脑外伤后认知障碍有积极治疗作用,并能改善临床预后。     

Correlation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to cognitive impairment following traumatic brain injury in rats

BACKGROUND: In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can promote survival and differentiation of cholinergic, dopaminergic and motor neurons, and axonal regeneration. BDNF has neuroprotective effects on the nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in BDNF expression and cognitive function in rats after brain injury DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The neuropathology experiment was performed at the Second Research Room, Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University (China) from July 2007 to July 2008. MATERIALS: A total of 72 healthy, male, Sprague Dawley, rats were selected for this study. METHODS: Rat models of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury were created by percussion, according to Feeney's method (n = 24, each group). A bone window was made in rats from the sham operation group (n = 24), but no attack was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At days 1,2, 4 and 7 following injury, BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was examined by immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method). Changes in rat cognitive function were assessed by the walking test, balance-beam test and memory function detection. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was aggravated at day 2, and recovered to normal at days 3 and 7 in rats from the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was increased at 1 day, decreased at day 2, and then gradually increased in the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression was greater in rats from the moderate traumatic brain injury group than in the sham operation and mild traumatic brain injury groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain is correlated to cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. BDNF has a protective effect on cognitive function in rats following injury     

Correlation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to cognitive impairment following traumatic brain injury in rats**☆

BACKGROUND： In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） can promote survival and differentiation of cholinergic, dopaminergic and motor neurons, and axonal regeneration. BDNF has neuroprotective effects on the nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To explore changes in BDNF expression and cognitive function in rats after brain injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The neuropathology experiment was performed at the Second Research Room, Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University （China） from July 2007 to July 2008. MATERIALS： A total of 72 healthy, male, Sprague Dawley, rats were selected for this study. METHODS： Rat models of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury were created by percussion, according to Feeney＇s method （n = 24, each group）. A bone window was made in rats from the sham operation group （n = 24）, but no attack was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At days 1, 2, 4 and 7 following injury, BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was examined by immunohistochemistry （streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method）. Changes in rat cognitive function were assessed by the walking test, balance-beam test and memory function detection. RESULTS： Cognitive impairment was aggravated at day 2, and recovered to normal at days 3 and 7 in rats from the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was increased at 1 day, decreased at day 2, and then gradually increased in the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression was greater in rats from the moderate traumatic brain injury group than in the sham operation and mild traumatic brain injury groups （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain is correlated to cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. BDNF has a protective effect on cognitive function in rats following i     

Endogenous adult neurogenesis and cognitive function recovery following traumatic brain injury in the rat hippocampus

BACKGROUND:Endogenous neural progenitor cells play a beneficial role for cognitive recovery following traumatic brain injury.However,there are few classification-control studies aimed at varying graded brain trauma.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of adult endogenous neurogenesis on cognitive function repair and regeneration of neural progenitor cells following varying graded traumatic hippocampal injury to determine the significance of endogenous neurogenesis in the repair of brain injury.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A randomized,controlled,animal experiment was performed at the Key Laboratory of Injuries,Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System,Tianjin Medical University General Hospital,from February to October 2009.MATERIALS:Mouse anti-rat 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and neuronal nuclei (NeuN) monoclonal antibodies were purchased from Millipore Corporation,USA.METHODS:A total of 45 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups.Mild and severe injury groups were respectively subjected to (182 ± 2) kPa and (284 ± 4) kPa lateral fluid percussion to establish models of brain injury,and the control group was subjected to surgery with no lateral fluid percussion.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Cognitive function was estimated using the Morris water maze.Proliferation,survival,and differentiation of newly generated cells in the injured hippocampus were observed through the use of immunofluorescent staining.RESULTS:At 7 days post-injury,the number of BrdU+ cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus significantly increased in the mild and severe injury groups compared with the control group (P<0.01).At 61 days post-injury,the number of BrdU7NeuN+ cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was significantly greater in the mild injury group compared with the severe injury and control groups (P< 0.01).In addition,the control group exhibited the greatest proportion of surviving cells that differentiated into mature neurons compared with the injury groups (P< 0.01).Moreover,at 61 days post-injury,cognitive function in rats with mild injury recovered to normal levels,whereas the severe injury group exhibited cognitive deficits (P< 0.01).CONCLUSION:Traumatic brain injury may be a stimulation factor for proliferation of neural progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus but severe brain trauma does not lead to an increased number of newly generated cells.Endogenous adult neurogenesis repairs neurological functions to an extent.However,recovery of neurological function remains limited following severe traumatic brain injury.     

黄体酮对创伤性脑损伤大鼠神经细胞凋亡的影响

目的 观察黄体酮对脑外伤后神经细胞凋亡的影响,探讨其对脑外伤(TBI)继发性脑损伤是否存在保护作用.方法 雄性Wistar 大鼠随机分为无脑损伤的假手术(sham)组、脑损伤(TBI)组、脑损伤后注射黄体酮治疗(P-TBI)组及注射二甲基亚砜(DMSO)溶剂(D-TBI)组,每大组24 只,再分1 d、3 d、5 d 和7 d 四个小组,每小组6 只.采用Freeney 法造成鼠脑挫裂伤模型,在伤后四个不同时相点用TUNEL 染色法分别检测四组大鼠脑组织中神经细胞凋亡情况.结果 创伤性脑损伤后凋亡细胞数量在TBI 第1 d 明显增加,TBI后第7 d 神经细胞凋亡达到高峰.伤后注射黄体酮治疗组神经细胞凋亡指数明显下降(P ＜0.05).结论 大鼠TBI 后周围脑组织神经细胞凋亡在伤后持续增加,注射黄体酮能抑制细胞凋亡,对脑组织有一定保护作用.     

Recall of emotional and neutral words and paragraphs in traumatic brain injury

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in verbal recall deficits and impaired processing of emotion encoded in facial appearance, prosody and the linguistic content of messages. Emotion facilitates memory (emotional memory advantage) for non-brain injured (NBI) individuals but the impact of emotion on verbal recall for linguistically encoded stimuli in TBI has not been explored.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of stimulus emotional content on verbal recall of words and paragraphs in TBI compared to NBI individuals.

Methods and procedures: Six 10-item lists, each with five emotional and five neutral words, and six paragraphs (three emotional, three neutral) were counterbalanced and presented in random order to 20 individuals with TBI and 44 NBI. The number of words from lists and the number of content units from paragraphs were compared for the two groups.

Outcomes and results: The NBI participants recalled more words from the lists and content units from the paragraphs than the individuals with TBI. Both groups recalled significantly more emotional than neutral words. NBI but not TBI participants had significantly greater recall for information in paragraphs with emotional content.

Conclusions: Participants with TBI showed impaired recall of words and paragraph content. Emotion facilitated word and paragraph content recall for neurotypical individuals but emotional memory advantage was limited to words for the TBI participants.     

亚低温对重型颅脑创伤合并急性创伤性凝血病影响的临床研究

目的 研究亚低温对重型颅脑创伤(sTBI)合并急性创伤性凝血病(ATC)患者的影响及其临床意义.方法 83例sTBI合并AT℃患者随机分为亚低温治疗组42例、常规治疗组(对照组)41例.亚低温治疗组均于伤后24h内接受亚低温治疗.分别测量两组患者不同时间点的凝血酶原时间(PT)、部分凝血酶原时间(APTT)、凝血时间(TT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)及D-二聚体水平,同时监测患者颅内压(ICP)以及生命体征、血气、血电解质及动脉血氧饱和度等,并根据GOS评估法判断预后.结果 亚低温治疗组患者PT、APTT、TT、FIB及D-二聚体与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而颅内压明显降低(P＜0.01);生命体征、血气、血电解质、动脉血氧饱和度差异无统计学意义,无严重并发症,病死率低,预后改善明显.结论 亚低温治疗不会增加sTBI合并ATC患者出现凝血障碍及纤溶亢进的风险,并且能有效地降低颅内压,具有肯定的脑保护作用,是一项安全有效的治疗措施.     

A meta-analysis of task-related influences in prospective memory in traumatic brain injury

Prospective memory is the ability to remember to do something in the future and it is essential to every-day functional independence. Traumatic brain injury is associated with frequent and persistent prospective memory deficits. This study presents a review and meta-analysis investigating the effects of task parameters on prospective memory performance of individuals with TBI. Individual studies using continuous behavioural measures of prospective memory with a sample of adults with TBI and matched controls were included. Consistent with previous research, a random effects meta-analysis indicated that TBI groups demonstrated lower prospective memory performance than control groups (d?=?1.10, SE?=?0.12, 95% CI?=?0.86–1.34). In addition, we found that type of prospective memory cue, saliency of cues, and complexity of the ongoing task significantly moderated the difference in prospective memory performance between TBI and control groups. These findings suggest that prospective memory task parameters should be considered in the assessment of prospective memory in individuals with cognitive impairment. In addition, considering the influence of these task parameters would be useful to develop effective compensatory strategies to reduce prospective memory failures.     

大鼠脑损伤后NMDAR1表达及其认知障碍变化的关系

目的同步考量脑损伤后大鼠与认知功能较为密切的脑区N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体1（NMDAR1）表达与认知功能的变化。方法参照Feeney法建立大鼠创伤性脑损伤模型,伤后1d,2d,4d,7d1）．2免疫组化SABC法检测大鼠额叶皮质、海马区、基底前脑区NMDAR1表达,以行走实验、平衡实验及记忆功能测定评估大鼠认知障碍变化。结果轻、中型脑损伤组大鼠于伤后2d认知障碍最严重,分别于伤后3,7d基本恢复正常。轻型、中型脑损伤组脑额叶皮质、海马区、基底前脑区NMDAR1均于伤后1d升高,于2d降至较低水平后再呈缓慢增高趋势,与认知障碍变化趋势呈同步变化,且中型脑损伤组NMDAR1表达高于假手术组与轻型脑损伤组（P〈0．05）。结论大鼠经创伤性脑损伤后,额叶皮质、海马区、基底前脑区细胞中的NMDAR1含量和损伤后认知障碍的变化趋势有相似性;创伤性脑损伤后表达增加的NMDAR1对大鼠认知功能有加重损害作用。     

Dysautonomia after severe traumatic brain injury

Background: Dysautonomia after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by episodes of increased heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, muscle tone, decorticate or decerebrate posturing, and profuse sweating. This study addresses the incidence of dysautonomia after severe TBI, the clinical variables that are associated with dysautonomia, and the functional outcome of patients with dysautonomia. Methods: A historic cohort study in patients with severe TBI [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 on admission]. Results: Seventy‐six of 119 patients survived and were eligible for follow‐up. The incidence of dysautonomia was 11.8%. Episodes of dysautonomia were prevalent during a mean period of 20.1 days (range 3–68) and were often initiated by discomfort. Patients with dysautonomia showed significant longer periods of coma (24.78 vs. 7.99 days) and mechanical ventilation (22.67 vs. 7.21 days). Dysautonomia was associated with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) [relative risk (RR) 20.83, CI 4.92–83.33] and the development of spasticity (RR 16.94, CI 3.96–71.42). Patients with dysautonomia experienced more secondary complications. They tended to have poorer outcome. Conclusions: Dysautonomia occurs in approximately 10% of patients surviving severe TBI and is associated with DAI and the development of spasticity at follow‐up. The initiation of dysautonomia by discomfort supports the Excitatory: Inhibitory Ratio model as pathophysiological mechanism.     

老年人重型颅脑外伤预后分析(附73例报道)

目的分析老年重型颅脑外伤患者的临床资料，总结影响老年人重型颅脑外伤预后的因素。方法回顾性分析73例急性重型颅脑外伤老年患者的临床资料，比较生存组及死亡组中各种因素的构成比，确定其对预后的影响。统计方法使用t检验、X^2检验及Logistic回归分析。结果本组生存30例，其中恢复良好5例，轻中残9例，重残13例，植物生存3例；死亡43例，死亡率为58．9％。结论老年重型颅脑外伤（TBI）患者死亡率高，预后差。年龄是影响预后的独立因素；GCS评分、瞳孔对光反射、原发性昏迷时间等指标是判断预后的重要因素。     

促红细胞生成素对创伤性脑损伤大鼠认知功能影响的实验研究

目的 评价促红细胞生成素(EPO)对脑外伤模型大鼠认知功能的作用,并探讨其影响机制.方法 48只雄性SD大鼠按随机数字表法分为对照组、假手术组、模型组和EPO治疗组.后2组建立液压冲击大鼠颅脑损伤模型,假手术组接受同样的操作但不接受液压冲击,对照组未经任何处理.伤后除EPO治疗组立即腹腔注射EPO(5000 U/kg)2 d外,另外3组同一时间腹腔注射等剂量生理盐水.于外伤后30 d应用Morris水迷官检测大鼠认知功能,伤后37 d应用免疫组化检测脑组织中脑源性生长因子(BDNF)的表达.结果定位航行实验结果显示训练后2、3、4、5 d各组大鼠寻找平台的潜伏期不同,对照组及假手术组潜伏期最短,模型组最长,EPO治疗组介于二者之间,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);空间搜索实验结果显示各组大鼠在原来平台所在象限游泳时间的百分比不同,对照组及假手术组游泳时间的百分比最高,模型组最低,EPO治疗组介于二者之间,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);免疫组化染色结果显示EPO治疗组大鼠脑组织BDNF的表达高于另外3组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 液压冲击造成的颅脑损伤可损害大鼠的认知功能,外源性给予EPO可以改善外伤后大鼠的空间学习记忆能力,这可能与EPO促进BDNF的表达有关.     

重型颅脑损伤术中急性脑膨出应对措施

目的探讨重型颅脑损伤手术中急性脑膨出的机理与处理措施。方法回顾性分析58例在颅脑手术过程中发生脑膨出的重型颅脑损伤患者临床资料,影像学资料及应对措施,采用标准大骨瓣减压、过度通气、咬除颅底骨质、阶梯性减压、及时复查颅脑CT等综合措施。结果术后随访三月按GOS评定预后恢复良好19例、轻残11例、重残11例、植物生存5例、死亡12例。迟发性血肿(63.8%),弥漫性脑肿胀(27.6%)及脑梗死(8.6%)是重型颅脑损伤手术中急性脑膨出的主要原因。结论对重型颅脑损伤手术中急性脑膨出的患者要正确判断,区别原因采取相应的措施。     

Effect of methylphenidate on ICU and hospital length of stay in patients with severe and moderate traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury is one of the major causes of death and disability among young people. Methylphenidate, a neural stimulant and protective drug, which has been mainly used for childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, has shown some benefits in late psychosocial problems in patients with traumatic brain injury. Its effect on arousal and consciousness has been also revealed in the sub-acute phase of traumatic brain injury. We studied its effect on the acute phase of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in relation to the length of ICU and hospital admission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Severely and moderately TBI patients (according to inclusion and exclusion criteria) were randomized to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received methylphenidate 0.3mg/kg per dose PO BID by the second day of admission until the time of discharge, and the control group received a placebo. Admission information and daily Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were recorded. Medical, surgical, and discharge plans for patients were determined by the attending physician, blinded to the study. RESULTS: Forty patients with severe TBI (GCS = 5-8) and 40 moderately TBI patients (GCS = 9-12) were randomly divided into treatment and control groups on the day of admission. In the severely TBI patients, both hospital and ICU length of stay, on average, were shorter in the treatment group compared with the control group. In the moderately TBI patients while ICU stay was shorter in the treatment group, there was no significant reduction of the period of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences between the treatment and control groups in terms of age, sex, post resuscitation GCS, or brain CT scan findings, in either severely or moderately TBI patients. Methylphenidate was associated with reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay by 23% in severely TBI patients (P = 0.06 for ICU and P = 0.029 for hospital stay time). However, in the moderately TBI patients who received methylphenidate, there was 26% fall (P = 0.05) only in ICU length of stay.     

When diplomacy fails: difficulty understanding hints following severe traumatic brain injury

Background: In the absence of aphasia, many people with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have difficulty with communication. In particular, they have difficulty understanding conversational inference. Poor social cognition is also prevalent following TBI.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the role of social cognition in the ability to recognise conversational inference in the form of hints.

Methods and procedures: 31 adults (22 men: mean age 45 years) with chronic (mean time since injury = 15.12 years) and severe TBI (mean post traumatic amnesia (PTA) of 32.74 days) and 24 adults (14 men: mean age 46.1 years) from the community participated. They were compared for their comprehension of two kinds of video vignettes in which professional actors made progressively more explicit hints. In one version, the conversational tone was neutral, in the other emotional. They were also assessed on an independent measure of social cognition (TASIT).

Outcomes & results: The adults with TBI recognised neutral hints at a normal rate but, unlike the community controls, were not facilitated by overtly emotional hints. Social cognition performance was related to performance on both types of hint. Improved performance on the emotional hints was not uniquely predicted by social cognition but, rather, by processing speed and possibly also stress in the group with TBI.

Conclusions: People with TBI appear to have difficulty using emotional cues to infer speaker meaning. This may reflect cognitive slowing and also anxiety and stress. This has implications for both remediation of such deficits and for educating others who interact with people with TBI.     

87例重症颅脑外伤患者急诊救治临床效果分析

目的：探讨重症颅脑损伤患者的急诊救治措施。方法将174例重度颅脑损伤患者随机分成对照组和观察组各87例。对照组采用常规急诊救治措施，观察组进行综合急救治疗。比较治疗前与治疗3、7 d后2组患者脑血流（Vm、PI、RI）变化，比较2组预后。结果治疗后第3、7天2组患者脑血流供应均有一定改善，其中观察组Vm、PI显著高于对照组，而RI显著低于对照组，P＜0·05。治疗3个月后，观察组生存率显著高于对照组，P＜0·05；观察组ADL分级为Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级的比例显著高于对照组，为Ⅳ级显著低于对照组，P＜0·05。结论采用综合的急诊救治措施治疗重症颅脑外伤患者能有效提高生存率并改善预后。     

重型颅脑外伤与肺部感染临床分析

目的研究重型颅脑外伤患者院内肺部感染原因及病原菌特点,探讨预防及控制感染措施。方法对260例重型颅脑外伤患者肺部感染危险因素及病原菌调查分析。结果根据入院后的调查研究,导致患者并发肺部感染的主要因素有年龄、住院时间、气管切开、休克、基础病变等;其中从260例肺部感染患者中分离了细菌190株,主要致病菌为革兰阴性菌,占71%,其次为革兰阳性菌,占15.8%,真菌占13.2%。治愈196例,因肺部感染死亡39例,放弃治疗25例。结论导致重型颅脑损伤并发肺部感染的主要因素有年龄、住院时间、气管切开、休克、基础病变等,其主要致病菌为革兰阴性菌、其次为革兰阳性菌、真菌,针对上述危险因素采取有效措施可降低感染率。     

镇静镇痛对重型颅脑损伤患者术后颅内压的影响分析

目的探讨镇静镇痛对重型、特重型颅脑损伤（TBI）患者术后颅内压（ICP）的影响。 方法选取湖州市第一人民医院神经外科自2016年1月至2018年6月收治的重型TBI患者45例,根据GCS评分将患者分为重型TBI组（GCS评分6~8分,26例）与特重型TBI组（GCS评分3~5分,19例）,观察2组镇静镇痛下及撤除镇静镇痛/唤醒下ICP值波动情况。 结果特重型TBI患者在镇静镇痛前后ICP差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,重型TBI患者撤除镇静镇痛/唤醒后,ICP前后变化差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论镇痛镇静与重型TBI开颅术后颅内压力波动有显著相关性,使用镇静镇痛可获得安全、平稳的ICP。     

Functional outcome following rehabilitation in chronic severe traumatic brain injury patients: A prospective study

Objective:

The objective was to assess functional outcome of rehabilitation in chronic severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in-patients.

Setting:

The study was performed at university tertiary research hospital.

Study Design:

A prospective cross-sectional study

Materials and Methods:

Forty patients (34 men) with mean age of 30.1 years (range 6--60, SD 10.8), severe TBI (Glasgow coma scale 3--8, duration of coma > 6 hours, post-traumatic amnesia> 1 day postinjury) were admitted in rehabilitation unit minimum 3 months (mean 7.7±4.6 months, range 3--22 months) following injury falling in Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) of 3. Functional recovery was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) score and disability rating scores (DRS).

Data Analysis:

Paired Student''s t-test was used for the assessment of functional recovery using mean BI scores at admission and discharge. The Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used for the assessment of functional recovery by comparing admission and discharge DRS scores.

Results:

Mean duration of stay was 30.8 days (range 18--91, SD15.6). Significant functional recovery observed in patients comparing BI and DRS scores at admission and discharge (mean BI admission 50.5±25.4, range 0--85 vs. mean discharge BI score 61.1±25.3, range 0--95, P<0.001, mean DRS admission score 7.57±4.1, range 2.5--21.0 vs. mean discharge DRS score 6.36±4.3, range 1.0-21.0, P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Patients with severe TBI continue to show functional recovery even in chronic phase with rehabilitation. They are left with significant residual physical and cognitive deficits and would require long-term care and assistance from care givers for the daily activities, as suggested by the mean DRS score at discharge.