Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
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To investigate the relationship between severity of hypernatremia and the risk of death for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who have been admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU). ⋯ Severe hypernatremia is an independent risk factor with extremely high odds ratio for death in patients with TBI who are admitted to the NICU.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Sep 2013
Changes in sleep patterns following traumatic brain injury: a controlled study.
Sleep changes are frequently reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have an impact on rehabilitation and quality of life following injury. Potential causes include injury to brain regions associated with sleep regulation, as well as secondary factors, including depression, anxiety, and pain. Understanding the nature and causes of sleep changes following TBI represents a vital step in developing effective treatments. ⋯ These findings highlight the importance of assessing and addressing pain, anxiety, and depression as part of the process of treating TBI-related sleep disturbances.
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Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a life-saving measure for traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, survivors may remain in a vegetative or minimally conscious state and require tracheostomy to facilitate airway management. In this cross-sectional analytical study, we investigated the predictors for tracheostomy requirement and influence of tracheostomy timing on outcomes in craniectomised survivors after TBI. ⋯ Age and admission GCS were independent predictors of the need for tracheostomy in craniectomised survivors after TBI. If tracheostomy is necessary, an earlier procedure may assist in patient care.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2013
Effectiveness of home- and community-based rehabilitation in a large cohort of patients disabled by cerebrovascular accident: evidence of a dose-response relationship.
To (1) assess the effectiveness of home- and community-based rehabilitation (HCBR) in a large cohort of individuals with disabilities secondary to cerebrovascular accident (CVA); and (2) evaluate the responsiveness to treatment of the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) to changes resulting from HCBR in this patient group. ⋯ Individuals in the CCT group who received the entire planned course of HCBR showed greater improvement on all MPAI-4 indexes than those in the PD group who were discharged before completing the prescribed program. This dose-response relationship provides evidence of a causal relationship between treatment and outcome.
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Experimental neurology · Sep 2013
Environmental enrichment promotes robust functional and histological benefits in female rats after controlled cortical impact injury.
Environmental enrichment (EE) consistently induces marked benefits in male rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but whether similar efficacy extends to females is not well established. Hence, the aim of this study was to reassess the effect of EE on functional and histological outcome in female rats after brain trauma. Twenty-four normal cycling adult female rats underwent verification of estrous stage prior to controlled cortical impact (CCI) or sham injury and then were assigned to EE or standard (STD) housing. ⋯ EE also provided significant histological protection as confirmed by increased CA(1/3) cell survival and decreased cortical lesion size vs. STD. These data demonstrate that EE confers robust benefits in female rats after CCI injury, which parallels numerous studies in males and lends further credence for EE as a preclinical model of neurorehabilitation.