Behavioral Recovery in Disorders of Consciousness: A Prospective Study With the Spanish Version of the Coma Recovery Scale–Revised

Abstract

Noé E, Olaya J, Navarro MD, Noguera P, Colomer C, García-Panach J, Rivero S, Moliner B, Ferri J. Behavioral recovery in disorders of consciousness: a prospective study with the Spanish version of the Coma Recovery Scale–Revised. ObjectiveTo describe the clinical characteristics and short-term pattern of evolution of a sample of patients within 1 year after acquiring a brain injury that led to a vegetative state (VS) or a minimally conscious state (MCS). DesignCohort study. SettingInpatient brain injury rehabilitation program. ParticipantsPatients with acquired brain injury (N=32; 47% traumatic, 37.5% hemorrhagic, 15.5% anoxic) who were in a VS or an MCS according to Coma Recovery Scale–Revised (CRS-R) scores. InterventionIntegrative multisensory program comprising daily physical rehabilitation procedures and multimodal sensory stimulation. Main Outcome MeasureAll patients were assessed with a Spanish version of the CRS-R at admission and then monthly for at least 6 months or until emergence from MCS. ResultsAt the time of admission, 12 patients were diagnosed as being in a VS and 20 as being in an MCS. Eight patients were able to emerge from their MCS during follow-up. Seven of these 8 patients were diagnosed as being in an MCS at inclusion, and only 1 was diagnosed as being in a VS. Emergence from an MCS was mostly associated with improvement in both the communication and motor function scales (n=4). Lesser chronicity (P=.01) and the presence of more than visual behavioral responses at admission (P=.05) were both significant predictors of emergence from an MCS. ConclusionsThe CRS-R seems appropriate for establishing an immediate prognosis in this population. A quick referral of these patients for specialized assessment and rehabilitation facilities is recommended.