Brain injury : [BI]
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2015
A longitudinal evaluation of diffusion kurtosis imaging in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
To investigate longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) changes in white and grey matter in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). ⋯ These data demonstrate that DKI may be sensitive in tracking pathophysiological changes associated with mTBI and may provide additional information to conventional DTI parameters in evaluating longitudinal changes following TBI.
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyQuantifying patterns of upper limb motor change following BTX-A injection in adult spasticity management.
To evaluate the capacity of the Upper Limb Performance Analysis: Comparative Analysis of Performance-Motor (CAP-M) to quantify change in adults with focal spasticity following injection of Botulinum Toxin-A (BTX-A) as a focal treatment for positive Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) features. ⋯ CAP-M analysis revealed that BTX-A injection decreased unwanted movement almost 5-times more frequently than 'unmasking' hidden voluntary muscle activity during active simulated tasks. In this way, CAP-M was able to simultaneously assess positive and negative UMN features. This quantitative framework may have greater functional relevance than traditional uni-dimensional, passive spasticity measures such as MAS and Tardieu Scale.
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2015
Comparative StudySurgical results of decompressive craniectomy in very young children: A level one trauma centre experience from India.
Literature remains sparse regarding decompressive craniectomy (DC) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) in very young children. This study analysed the indications, complications and outcome of young children undergoing DC for TBI at our institute. ⋯ Decompressive craniectomy offers a survival advantage in almost 50% of young children with severe TBI and should be used judiciously. The highest mortality was within the 1st week of surgery. The cut-off limit of 20 mm Hg for surgical decompression might not be applicable to young children and a low threshold ICP needs to be considered. Factors associated with increased mortality are high opening ICP (>20 mm Hg), GCS <8, diffuse cerebral oedema and infant age group. Timing of DC remains crucial. Further prospective studies are necessary to optimize the timing and ICP limit for surgical decompression.
-
Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is being used to identify traumatic intracranial aneurysms (TICA) in patients with findings such as skull fracture and intracranial haemorrhage on initial Computed Tomography (CT) scans after blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the incidence of TICA in patients with blunt TBI is unknown. The aim of this study is to report the incidence of TICA in patients with blunt TBI and to assess the utility of CTA in detecting these lesions. ⋯ The incidence of traumatic intracranial aneurysm was exceedingly low (0.65%) over 10-years. This study adds to the growing literature questioning the empiric use of CTA for detecting vascular injuries in patients with blunt TBI.
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2015
Community integration 2 years after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.
The aim of this study was to examine community integration by the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) 2 years after injury in a divided TBI sample of moderately and severely injured patients. The second aim was to identify social-demographic, injury-related and rehabilitation associated predictors of CIQ. ⋯ At 2 years follow-up, there was significant difference between the moderately and severely injured patients in the productivity scores (p < 0.003), while difference in the total CIQ scores approached the significance level (p = 0.074). Significant predictors of a higher CIQ score were living with a spouse, higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the acute phase, shorter Post-Traumatic Amnesia (PTA), longer rehabilitation stay (LOS) and use of rehabilitation service. Use of rehabilitation service (B = 7.766) and living with a spouse (B = 4.251) had the largest influence. This means that living with a spouse, better score on the GCS scale, shorter PTA, longer LOS and use of rehabilitation service after discharge equated to better community integration 2 years after TBI Conclusions: Two years after TBI the moderately injured patients have a higher productivity level than the severely injured patients. Marital status, injury severity and rehabilitation after injury were associated with community integration 2 years after TBI.