The role of serum testosterone and TBI in the in-patient rehabilitation setting

Objectives: To explore the relationship between serum testosterone levels, age, length of stay, admission, discharge and changes in functional capacity over time among patients with traumatic brain injury treated in a rehabilitation hospital.

Design: This study used a nonrandomized chart review of 54 males, consecutively admitted to a brain injury rehabilitation hospital.

Methods: The charts of 54 males consecutively admitted to a brain injury rehabilitation unit between the periods of December 2004 and May 2005 were included in this study. Individuals were included in this study if they were 18 years of age or older, had suffered a traumatic brain injury, undergone admission and discharge, functional independence measure (FIM) testing and had received a serum testosterone level check within one to seven days from admission.

Main outcome and results: The main outcome measure of this study was the FIM changes over time, as compared with admission testosterone levels. Low serum testosterone levels on admission to the in-patient rehabilitation unit were associated with longer lengths of stay, lower average admission FIM scores, less improvement in FIM scores, and a lower FIM efficiency. Although not statistically significant, individuals presenting to our unit with low testosterone levels, on average, stayed 26 days longer than did those with normal levels. Age and the presence of multi-trauma did not appear to be factors associated with serum testosterone levels. Changes in discharge cognitive FIM scores between the two groups approached statistical significance (p = 0.06).

Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that testosterone levels may be important in the recovery of patients with traumatic brain injury, treated at an in-patient rehabilitation hospital.