Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Feb 2014
Stroke risk and outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury: 2 nationwide studies.
To investigate whether patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have an increased risk of stroke or poststroke mortality. ⋯ Traumatic brain injury was associated with risk of stroke and poststroke mortality. The relationship between TBI and poststroke mortality does not seem to transcend all age groups. This research shows the importance of prevention, early recognition, and treatment of stroke in this vulnerable population.
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Neurological research · Feb 2014
Hourly neurologic assessments for traumatic brain injury in the ICU.
Hourly neurologic assessments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the critical care setting are common practice but prolonged use may actually be harming patients through sleep deprivation. We reviewed practice patterns at our institution in order to gain insight into the role of frequent neurological assessments. ⋯ Hourly neurologic checks are necessary in the acute period for patients with potentially expansible intracranial hemorrhages or malignant cerebral edema, but prolonged use may be harmful. Patients with a low probability of requiring neurosurgical intervention may benefit from reducing the total duration of hourly assessments.
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Hazardous drinking may result in recurrent head trauma. It was investigated whether head trauma sustained under the influence of alcohol is a predictor of future traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Even head trauma without TBI under the influence of alcohol implies an elevated risk of subsequent TBI. A brief intervention to reduce hazardous drinking is needed to prevent TBI.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2014
Transcranial direct current stimulation effects in disorders of consciousness.
To assess the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on improving consciousness in patients with persistent unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) (previously termed persistent vegetative state [PVS]) or in a minimally conscious state (MCS). ⋯ tDCS seems promising for the rehabilitation of patients with severe disorders of consciousness. Severity and duration of pathology may be related to the degree of tDCS' beneficial effects.
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Chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTHA), the most frequent complaint after traumatic brain injury (TBI), dramatically affects quality of life and function. Despite its high prevalence and persistence, the mechanism of CPTHA is poorly understood. This literature review aimed to analyze the results of studies assessing the characteristics and sensory profile of CPTHA in order to shed light on its possible underlying mechanisms. ⋯ Chronic post-traumatic headache can result from damage to intra- and pericranial tissues that caused chronic sensitization of these tissues. Alternatively, although not mutually exclusive, CPTHA might possibly be a form of central pain due to damage to brain structures involved in pain processing. These, other possibilities, as well as risk factors for CPTHA are discussed at length.