Auditory dysfunction in traumatic brain injury

Effective communication is essential for successful rehabilitation, especially in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The authors examined the prevalence and characteristics of auditory dysfunction in patients with TBI who were admitted to a Department of Veterans Affairs TBI inpatient unit before and after the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In order to delineate the characteristics of the auditory manifestations of patients who had sustained blast-related (BR) TBI, we reviewed the medical records of 252 patients with TBI and categorized them according to admission date, either before (Group I, n = 102) or after (Group II, n = 150) the onset of OIF. We subdivided Group II into non-blast-related (NBR) and BR TBI; no subjects in Group I had BR TBI. We found that admissions for TBI have increased 47% since the onset of OIF. In Group I, 28% of patients with TBI complained of hearing loss and 11% reported tinnitus. In Group II-NBR (n = 108), 44% complained of hearing loss and 18% reported tinnitus. In Group II-BR (n = 42), 62% complained of hearing loss and 38% reported tinnitus. Sensorineural loss was the most prevalent type of hearing loss in Group II-BR patients. In light of the high prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in this growing population of returning soldiers, we need to develop and implement strategies for diagnosis and management of these conditions.     

Non-neurologic organ dysfunction in severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of non-neurologic organ dysfunction and its association with outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury admitted to intensive care. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Foothills Medical Centre, which is the only neurosurgical service in southern Alberta (population approximately 1.3 million). PATIENTS: Patients were 209 consecutive patients with severe traumatic brain injury. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Non-neurologic organ dysfunction was measured by the maximum modified multiple organ dysfunction score. Organ system failure was defined as a component score of >/=3 on any day during the patient's intensive care unit stay. One hundred and eighty-five patients (89%) developed dysfunction of at least one non-neurologic organ system. Ninety-six organ system failures were identified in 74 patients (35%). Respiratory failure was the most common non-neurologic organ system failure, occurring in 23% of patients, whereas cardiovascular failure occurred in 18%. Eight patients (4%) had failure of the coagulation system. One patient had renal failure, whereas no patient developed hepatic failure. In a multivariate model, non-neurologic organ dysfunction was independently associated with hospital mortality (odds ratio for hospital mortality, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.34, 1.98 for one maximum modified multiple organ dysfunction score point). Non-neurologic organ dysfunction was also independently associated with dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Score, as a measure of neurologic outcome (odds ratio for unfavorable neurologic outcome, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.22, 1.98 for one maximum modified multiple organ dysfunction score point). The timing of the organ dysfunction did not appear to be important in the prediction of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Non-neurologic organ dysfunction is common in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and is independently associated with worse outcome.     

脑通在重型颅脑损伤患者认知障碍中的应用

目的 :探讨脑通对重型颅脑损伤恢复期患者认知障碍的治疗作用及其机理。方法 :将 52例重型颅脑损伤恢复期患者分为常规治疗组和脑通治疗组 ,治疗前后检测SPECT并评估认知功能 ,分析脑局部血流量及认知功能的变化。结果 :脑通组与常规组治疗后SPECT检查显示病灶数均有明显减少 ,但两者比较无统计学差异。脑通组治疗后认知功能评分较常规组高 ,虽然总体评分无统计学差异 ,但脑通组定向力及记忆力改善优于常规组 (P <0 0 5)。结论 :脑通可改善重型颅脑损伤患者的认知功能     

脑外伤患者认知功能障碍的危险因素北大核心CSCD

目的探讨脑外伤患者发生认知功能障碍的危险因素。方法2021年3月至9月多中心选取住院治疗的556例脑外伤患者,采用性别1∶1匹配的病例-对照研究设计,经蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MOCA)评定,将有认知障碍者作为病例组,无认知障碍者作为对照组,收集一般资料和疾病资料,并采用社会支持评定量表、医院焦虑抑郁量表进行评估。结果Logistic回归分析结果显示,大专及以上文化水平(OR=0.040)、高水平社会支持(OR=0.118)是脑外伤患者认知障碍的保护因素(P<0.05);年龄60~88岁(OR=9.996)、重度脑损伤(OR=7.345)、外伤后头痛(OR=2.159)、夜间易醒或多梦次数≥3次/周(OR=3.705)、脑损伤导致上肢功能严重障碍(OR=6.072)、抑郁(OR=5.202)是脑外伤患者认知障碍的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论脑外伤患者发生认知障碍的相关因素涵盖一般因素、疾病因素、睡眠、心理及社会支持等多元因素。提示临床除疾病治疗外,需要改善睡眠、调整心理、增加支持,以降低患者认知障碍率,促进疾病康复。     

塞来昔布对重型颅脑创伤后运动功能的影响

目的 探讨选择性环氧合酶( cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2)抑制剂塞来昔布对重型颅脑创伤后神经元保护作用及可能作用机制.方法 72只健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为颅脑创伤组、塞来昔布治疗组、模型组及对照组,每组18只.颅脑创伤组、塞来普布治疗组采用Marmarou方法建立大鼠重型闭合性颅脑创伤模型,模型组仅于麻醉后切开头皮、缝合,但不致伤,对照组不做任何处理.每组12只应用蛋白印迹Western blot法及免疫组织化学SP法检测COX-2表达,6只进行神经功能损害评分测试.结果 颅脑创伤组COX-2蛋白表达较对照组及模型组明显增加(P＜0.05),塞来昔布治疗组COX-2蛋白表达较颅脑创伤组下降(P＜0.05);对照组神经功能损伤评分与模型组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),塞来昔布治疗组神经功能损伤评分较颅脑创伤组明显降低(P＜0.05).结论 COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布对重型颅脑创伤大鼠有脑保护作用,可降低COX-2的表达,抑制脑创伤后的炎症反应,改善其伤后运动障碍.     

大鼠中度脑损伤后行为和认知功能障碍的测定

目的:探讨大鼠中度脑损伤后不同行为功能和记忆功能测定方法的效能。方法:将成年健康雄性SD大鼠20只,单纯随机分成两组,手术准备后致伤,测定中度液压脑损伤后大鼠不同时期的行走、平衡、爬坡和记忆功能评分。结果:实验组大鼠伤后第1天行走试验时间明显延长,为(20.95±3.36)s,至伤后第7天仍未恢复正常,为(5.12±0.71)s,与对照组(3.54±0.82)s比较,t=4.6064,P<0.01。平衡试验:实验组伤后第1天评分为4.20±1.00,至伤后第6天恢复正常,评分为1.13±0.35,与对照组1.00±0.00比较,t=1.1746,P>0.05。用记忆功能测定箱测试时,实验组大鼠至第13天记忆功能仍未恢复,评分为5.3±1.8,与同一天对照组7.1±1.2比较,t=2.4437,P<0.05。实验组大鼠伤后爬坡能力至第4天即恢复至(51.7±3.5)°,与对照组(53.6±3.8)°比较,差异并无显著性意义(t=1.1630,P>0.05)。结论:伤后大鼠行走、平衡和记忆功能障碍明显,且持续到伤后较长时间,而爬坡能力障碍较轻。     

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in critically ill patients with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury

Background A significant number of studies have shown that critically ill patients with brain injury (BI) frequently exhibit abnormal pituitary hormonal responses during the immediate postinjury period.Discussion The elucidation of endocrine alterations depends on the criteria used, the diagnostic tests applied, and the timing of testing in relation to BI. The pattern of the detected hormonal abnormalities shows considerable variability. Altered endocrine responses are due mostly to hypothalamic changes rather than to pituitary dysfunction. Several studies have examined the correlation between hormonal alterations and BI severity, but the results are inconsistent. Furthermore, it remains currently unclear whether and how pituitary abnormalities adversely affect the clinical course of BI patients during the period of critical illness. On the basis of current knowledge, with the exception of clinically significant relative adrenal deficiency and diabetes insipidus, the other endocrine alterations do not seem to require any therapeutic intervention in severely ill BI patients. It is also uncertain whether hormonal abnormalities detected in the early post-BI period persist for the rest of these patients lives.Conclusions In view of current evidence indicating a high incidence of pituitary dysfunction even years following BI it is recommended that repetition of endocrine evaluation should be performed during the rehabilitation phase in all patients.     

Sexual dysfunction of persons after traumatic brain injury: perceptions of professionals

The purpose of this paper was to study the perceptions of professionals in the field of rehabilitation in Israel concerning sexual dysfunction of persons after traumatic brain injury. Thirty professionals filled out an open-ended questionnaire that focused on problems of sexual functioning, dyadic and social relationships, and suggestions for the most appropriate interventions for these problems. The results indicated that for persons with TBI, the physical changes were not identified as the primary obstacle preventing persons after TBI from achieving sexual satisfaction, but rather the cognitive and emotional sequelae of TBI. A number of possible intervention techniques were also suggested.     

颅脑损伤急性期凝血功能异常75例临床分析

目的探讨颅脑损伤(TBI)患者急性期凝血功能异常与病情严重程度、是否发生进展性颅内出血(PIH)以及预后的关系。方法选择75例TBI患者,按GCS评分分为重型TBI组(GCS3～8分)和轻中型TBI组(GCS8分);按病情进展分为PIH组和非PIH组;治疗15d后,按病情预后分为预后不良组和预后良好组。所有患者在入院24h内测定凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、纤维蛋白原(FBG)和血小板(PLT),并进行数据分析。结果急性TBI患者在发病24h内发生凝血功能异常。重型TBI组PT、FBG和PLT异常较轻中型TBI组明显,PIH组PT、APTT、FBG和PLT异常较非PIH组明显,预后不良组PT、APTT、FBG和PLT异常较预后良好组明显,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 TBI患者急性期常见凝血功能异常,早期监测PT、APTT、FBG和PLT对判断TBI的严重程度和估计预后有重要临床意义,可以预测进展性颅内血肿发生。     

Pituitary-testicular axis dysfunction in spinal cord injury

Concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum and 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) in urine of 10 paraplegic and 10 quadriplegic subjects were measured from onset of injury and followed once a week for 4 months. Compared with age-matched normal controls, paraplegic subjects showed significantly lower serum levels of LH and FSH for 2 weeks and of testosterone for 6 weeks after spinal cord trauma, following which periods of time these hormones attained normal levels. By contrast, in quadriplegic subjects, serum testosterone concentrations remained significantly lower than those of the controls during the entire 4-month testing period. Furthermore, in another group of 10 chronic (1 to 6 years after onset of injury) paraplegic and 10 chronic quadriplegic subjects, serum testosterone and FSH concentrations were comparable to those of the normal controls. Serum LH concentrations were at control levels in chronic paraplegic but significantly depressed in chronic quadriplegic subjects. The concentrations of urinary 17-KS exhibited sharp fluctuations over the 4-month period and were below control levels in paraplegic but within control limits in quadriplegic subjects. The results indicate that the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is disturbed for at least 4 months in quadriplegic subjects.     

Mild traumatic brain injury

Mild head injury is a common emergency presentation. Previously medical attention has focused on risk of injury requiring surgical intervention. The importance of long term sequelae in patients not requiring surgical intervention has now been recognised. It is not clear, however, how frequently this occurs, which patients are at risk and whether interventions improve outcome. The symptoms associated with mild traumatic brain injury have an organic basis. Some people will be helped by strategies to deal with these symptoms. Emergency physicians should develop better methods to ensure adequate screening in the emergency department to target at risk groups and introduce interventions which are proven to be effective.     

Severe traumatic brain injury

In western countries, injuries remain the leading cause of death in young adults (Jennett B. Epidemiology of head injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1996; 60: 362-369). Worldwide, injuries are estimated to account for 15% of the burden of death and disability, and are projected to account for 20% in 2020 (Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research Relating to Future Intervention Options. Investing in Health Research and Development (Document TDR/Gen/96.1). Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1996). In developing countries road traffic injuries in particular are increasing in incidence and injuries are projected to be the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide by 2020 (Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research Relating to Future Intervention Options. Investing in Health Research and Development (Document TDR/Gen/96.1). Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1996). Head injury accounts for up to half of all deaths from trauma (Kraus J. Epidemiology of head injury. In: Cooper PR, Ed. Head Injury, 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: William Wilkins, 1993), and in addition to causing death often causes severe and long-lasting functional impairment in survivors.     

大鼠重型颅脑创伤后急性期下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴损害和功能改变的意义

目的 探讨大鼠重型颅脑创伤(traumatic brain injury,TBI)后急性期下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal,HPA)轴损害和功能改变的意义.方法 成年健康封闭群雄性SD大鼠60只,随机(随机数字法)分为假手术组、模型组和治疗组,每组20只.采用Feeney法建立大鼠重型TBI模型.治疗组于伤后10 min、24 h和48 h腹腔注射地塞米松0.6mg/kg,假手术组和模型组给予等容量生理盐水替代.各组大鼠腹腔注射1μg促肾上腺皮质激素(adrenocorticotropic hormone,ACTH)作刺激试验,分别于伤后第3、12、24、72小时4个时间点进行观察.应用化学发光法测定血清皮质酮(corticosterone,CORT)和ACTH含量.第72小时取大鼠下丘脑、垂体和肾上腺,采用免疫组织化学方法观察白细胞介素6(interleukin-6,IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor-alpha,TNF-α)表达情况.所得数据采用SPSS 17.0统计软件包进行单因素方差分析和SNK-q检验.结果 ①模型组大鼠伤后第3小时外周血CORT和ACTH达高峰,明显高于假手术组,随后逐渐降低;各时间点ACTH刺激试验后CORT上升的幅度(△max)均低于假手术组(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).治疗组大鼠伤后所有时间点CORT均高于模型组,ACTH仅伤后第24小时高于模型组;ACTH刺激后CORT的△max值均较模型明显升高(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).②模型组大鼠伤后第72小时下丘脑与垂体IL-6、TNF-α阳性细胞数较假手术组明显升高(P＜0.01);治疗组则较模型组明显降低(P＜0.01);肾上腺皮质仅IL-6阳性细胞数差异显著(P＜0.01).结论 重型TBI大鼠早期即可存在肾上腺皮质功能改变,随着时间推移,对ACTH反应程度降低.小剂量短疗程地塞米松可减轻HPA轴炎症反应程度,增强肾上腺皮质对ACTH的敏感性.     

Pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury

Approximately 7 million people in the United States each year experience traumatic brain injury, the leading cause of death from injury in this country. The initial traumatic event, often described as the primary injury, and the pathophysiologic sequelae, the secondary injury, are the themes of this article. Primary injuries to the extracranial and intracranial structures will be discussed, as well as the secondary injuries that occur minutes to days after the initial insult. It is critical that the bedside nurse clinician understand these concepts to anticipate potential complications and plan appropriate interventions with the multidisciplinary team. The goal of these interventions is to prevent the devastating effects of secondary injury.