Rehabilitation of Patients with Long-Term Complications of Mild Closed Traumatic Brain Injuries Using Sensory Deprivation

Abstract

Introduction: This study’s primary goal was to develop and implement a new non-pharmacological method of therapy to increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment of patients with long-term complications of mild closed traumatic brain injuries. Material and Methods: We examined 100 patients with complications of mild closed traumatic brain injuries in the stage of decompensation. We studied the dynamics of subjective and objective neurological symptoms, vegetative indices (vegetative tonus, vegetative responsiveness, vegetative provisioning), and neuro mediators levels (adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin) before and after sensory deprivation. Results: During rehabilitation, we observed the positive changes in neurological status as well as in the balance restoration of the nervous system and the neurohormonal normalization of the sympathoadrenal system. It contributed to a more adequate generalized adaptive response of the body. After a series of rehabilitation procedures, the difference between the maximal and control markers of melatonin excretion significantly decreased, which might confirm the evidence of normalization of the processes’ rhythmicity and vital functions, as well as the improvement of complex neuroprotection. Also, the normalization of melatonin excretion in patients was associated with sleep improvement, decreased intensity of the headache syndromes, and increased activity and ability to act. Conclusions: Long-term complications of mild closed traumatic brain injury develop due to activity imbalance of supratentorial structures of the vegetative nervous system, desynchronization of the cortex’s activity, and desynchronization of humoral mechanisms of vegetative activity realization. The use of sensory deprivation promotes much faster rehabilitation of this group of patients, reduces the pharmacological burden on the patient’s body, and improves the brain system’s functioning.