Post-traumatic apallic syndrome following head injury. Part 2: Treatment

Early rehabilitation of comatose patients after traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As a result of improvements in the rescue system and progress in intensive care therapy, an increasing number of patients have survived severe traumatic brain injury in recent years. Early and consistent administration of the correct rehabilitation programme is of crucial importance for the restoration and improvement of cerebral function, as well as social reintegration. This prospective study was conducted at the neurosurgical department of a university hospital to assess the one-year outcome of comatose patients after severe traumatic brain injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients were included. Patients received multimodal early-onset stimulation and continuous inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation therapy. One-year outcome was assessed by means of the Glasgow Outcome Scale, Barthel Index, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and need of care.

RESULTS

Seven patients died, 4 remained in a vegetative state, 7 were severely disabled, 6 were moderately disabled, and 3 achieved a good recovery 12 months after injury. Median Barthel Index was 65 and median FIM score was 84. The majority of patients were still at least intermittently dependent on care.

CONCLUSION

Despite intensive rehabilitation treatment, severe traumatic brain injury is still burdened with significant mortality and morbidity.

Rehabilitation interventions for vegetative and minimally conscious patients

Brain injury rehabilitation is a complex and challenging task for all members of the multidisciplinary team. Medical advances have allowed more severely impaired patients to survive and consequently the number of patients in the vegetative and minimally conscious states have proportionately increased. Thus, the need for evidence-based practice and further research demonstrating the effects of specific rehabilitation interventions is required. This article reviews the current research and consensus on rehabilitation for patients in the vegetative and minimally conscious states.