Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2021
Meta AnalysisAgitated behaviours following traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence by post-traumatic amnesia status, hospital setting and agitated behaviour type.
Agitation is a common behavioral problem following traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the precise proportion of patients who experience agitation in the early stages of recovery is unknown. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of agitation in TBI patients undergoing inpatient care, and whether this prevalence differed by post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) status and setting (acute and rehabilitation). We also aimed to describe the prevalence of sub-types of agitated behavior (disinhibited, aggressive, and emotionally labile). ⋯ Disinhibited behaviors were the most common. There was substantial heterogeneity between studies. Additional high-quality research featuring large samples, frequent and long-term measurement of agitation, use of validated scales, and consideration of variables such as PTA status will further improve estimates of agitation prevalence following TBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2021
Diffusion tensor imaging in sport-related concussion: A systematic review using an a priori quality rating system.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of brain white matter (WM) may be useful for characterizing the nature and degree of brain injury after sport-related concussion (SRC) and assist in establishing objective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review using an a priori quality rating strategy to determine the most consistent DTI-WM changes post-SRC. Articles published in English (until June 2020) were retrieved by standard research engine and gray literature searches (N = 4932), using PRISMA guidelines. ⋯ DTI metrics were commonly associated with SRC symptom severity, although standardized SRC diagnostics would improve future research. This indicates that microstructural recovery is often incomplete at return to play and may lag behind clinically assessed recovery measures. Future work should explore interindividual trajectories to improve understanding of the heterogeneous and dynamic WM patterns post-SRC.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2021
Effectiveness of an education platform (GoHuddle) for increasing likelihood of coach concussion communication with athletes.
Research suggests coaches play a central role in establishing a context conducive to concussion reporting, particularly via direct verbal communication about concussion. Informed by qualitative interviews and stakeholder feedback, we developed a web-based concussion education platform for collegiate coaches (GoHuddle). The goal of GoHuddle is to encourage concussion safety-supportive coach communication using behavioral modeling and experiential learning. ⋯ Response efficacy for talking about concussion also increased significantly post-intervention (OR 3.78, p < 0.001). No significant change was seen in expectancies regarding pressure on medical staff to return athletes to play "as soon as possible." A high proportion (82%) of coaches would recommend this platform for coach concussion education. In conclusion, this study suggests GoHuddle is a feasible and acceptable approach to coach concussion education, and use of this platform holds promise for shifting coach communication about concussion.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2021
Observational StudyCytotoxic edema associated with hemorrhage predicts poor outcome after traumatic brain injury.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used rarely in the acute evaluation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) but may identify findings of clinical importance not detected by computed tomography (CT). We aimed to characterize the association of cytotoxic edema and hemorrhage, including traumatic microbleeds, on MRI obtained within hours of acute head trauma and investigated the relationship to clinical outcomes. Patients prospectively enrolled in the Traumatic Head Injury Neuroimaging Classification study (NCT01132937) with evidence of diffusion-related findings or hemorrhage on neuroimaging were included. ⋯ Of 118 patients with outcome data, 60 had Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended scores ≤6 at 30/90 days post-injury. Cytotoxic edema on MRI (odds ratio [OR] 2.91 [1.32-6.37], p = 0.008) and TBI severity (OR 2.51 [1.32-4.74], p = 0.005) were independent predictors of outcome. These findings suggest that in patients with TBI who had findings of hemorrhage on CT, patients with DWI/ADC lesions on MRI are more likely to do worse.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Nov 2021
Repetitive low-level blast exposure improves behavioral deficits and chronically lowers Aβ42 in an Alzheimer's disease transgenic mouse model.
Public awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the military increased recently because of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan where blast injury was the most common mechanism of injury. Besides overt injuries, concerns also exist over the potential adverse consequences of subclinical blast exposures, which are common for many service members. A TBI is a risk factor for the later development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD)-like disorders. ⋯ Repetitive low-level blast exposure was less effective at improving behavioral deficits in APP/PS1 Tg mice when begun at 36 weeks of age. While amyloid plaque loads were unchanged, Aβ 42 levels and Aβ oligomers were reduced in the brain of mice exposed to repetitive low-level blast exposures initiated at 20 weeks of age, although levels did not directly correlate with behavioral parameters in individual animals. These results have implications for understanding the nature of blast effects on the brain and their relationship to human neurodegenerative diseases.