Disability Rating Scale Scores Research Articles

Hyperbaric oxygen for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury: outcomes 5-8 years after injury.

The use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 2 ) in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming more widespread and increasing yearly, however there are few prognostic reports on long-term functional efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess the functional prognosis of patients with moderate-to-severe TBI 5-8 years following HBO 2 treatments and to explore the optimal HBO 2 regimen associated with prognosis, using a retrospective study. Clinical data were retrospectively collected as a baseline for patients with moderate-to-severe TBI treated with HBO 2 during inpatient rehabilitation from January 2014 to December 2017. The primary outcome measure was the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and the secondary outcome measure was the Glasgow Outcome Scale. A total of 133 patients enrolled, with 9 (6.8%) dying, 41 (30.8%) remaining moderately disabled or worse (DRS scores 4-29), 83 (62.4%) remaining partially/mildly disabled or no disability (DRS scores 0-3). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age at injury (odds ratio (OR), 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92-0.99), length of intensive care unit stay (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99), and HBO 2 sessions (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99) were variables that independently influenced long-term prognosis. Cubic fitting models revealed that 14 and 21.6 sessions of HBO 2 could be effective for moderate and severe TBI, respectively. This study highlighted that HBO 2 in moderate-to-severe TBI may contribute to minimize death and reduce overall disability in the long-term. However, clinicians should be cautious of the potential risk of adverse long-term prognosis from excessive HBO 2 exposure when tailoring individualized HBO 2 regimens for patients with moderate-to-severe TBI. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05387018) on March 31, 2022.

Symptoms and Functional Outcomes Among Traumatic Brain Injury Patients 3- to 12-Months Post-Injury.

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience a variety of physical, cognitive, and affective symptoms. However, the evolution of symptoms, especially during the 3- to 12-month convalescence period (when recovery of function is still possible), is understudied. This study aims to identify symptoms and the relationships with functional outcomes that occur during the 3- to 12-month period after a TBI. Participants who were 3 to 12months post-TBI were recruited from a South Florida TBI clinic from May 2022 to June 2023. Clinical data were obtained from the electronic health record. Participants completed the Brain Injury Association of Virginia Symptom Checklist, Neuro-Quality of Life Cognitive Function, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Disturbance assessments to report symptoms, and the Disability Rating Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize demographics and symptoms. Linear regression was performed to analyze the relationships between symptoms and outcomes. A total of N =39 patients participated in the study. Memory problems and difficulty concentrating were the most common symptoms. Hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, cognitive, and physical symptoms were significantly associated with the Disability Rating Scale score. Physical, cognitive, depressive, and anxiety symptoms had significant associations with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Cognitive symptoms should be integrated into the clinical care of rehabilitating TBI patients. Nurses should monitor for physical, affective, and cognitive symptoms during the recovery phase of TBI.

Tranexamic acid in patients with traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis

BackgroundWe performed a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). MethodsWe searched the literature for articles evaluating the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in TBI published between January 2012 and January 2021, and identified 8 studies with a total of 10860 patients: 5660 received TXA and 5200 served as controls. We used a dichotomous or continuous approach with a random or fixed-effect model to assess the efficacy and safety of TXA in TBI, and calculated the mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. ResultsIn patients with TBI, early administration of TXA was associated with a greater relative benefit (MD −2.45; 95% CI = −4.78 to −0.12; p=0.04) and less total haematoma expansion (MD - 2.52; 95% CI = −4.85 to −0.19; p=0.03) compared to controls.There were no statistically significant differences in mortality (OR 0.94; 95% CI=0.85–1.03; p=0.18), presence of progressive haemorrhage (OR 0.75; 95% CI=0.56–1.01; p=0.06), need for neurosurgery (OR 1.15; 95% CI=0.66–1.98; p=0.63), high Disability Rating Scale score (OR 0.90; 95% CI=0.56–1.45; p=0.68), and incidence of ischaemic or thromboembolic complications (OR 1.34; 95% CI=0.33–5.46; p=0.68) between TBI patients treated with TXA and controls. ConclusionsEarly administration of TXA in TBI patients may have a greater relative benefit and may inhibit haematoma expansion. There were no significant differences in mortality, presence of progressive haemorrhage, need for neurosurgery, high Disability Rating Scale score, and incidence of ischaemic or thromboembolic complications between TBI patients treated with TXA and controls. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

Improvement in Functional Outcome from 6 to 12 Months After Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Is Frequent, But May Not Be Detected With the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended.

The aims of this study were (1) to report outcome and change in outcome in patients with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (mo/sTBI) between 6 and 12 months post-injury as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE), (2) to explore if demographic/injury-related variables can predict improvement in GOSE score, and (3) to investigate rate of improvement in Disability Rating Scale (DRS) score, in patients with a stable GOSE. All surviving patients ≥16 years of age who were admitted with mo/sTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤13) to the regional trauma center in Central Norway between 2004 and 2019 were prospectively included (n = 439 out of 503 eligible). GOSE and DRS were used to assess outcome. Twelve-months post-injury, 13% with moTBI had severe disability (GOSE 2-4) versus 27% in sTBI, 26% had moderate disability (GOSE 5-6) versus 41% in sTBI and 62% had good recovery (GOSE 7-8) versus 31% in sTBI. From 6 to 12 months post-injury, 27% with moTBI and 32% with sTBI had an improvement, whereas 6% with moTBI and 6% with sTBI had a deterioration in GOSE score. Younger age and higher GCS score were associated with improved GOSE score. Improvement was least frequent for patients with a GOSE score of 3 at 6 months. In patients with a stable GOSE score of 3, an improvement in DRS score was observed in 22 (46%) patients. In conclusion, two thirds and one third of patients with mo/sTBI, respectively, had a good recovery. Importantly, change, mostly improvement, in GOSE score between 6 and 12 months was frequent and argues against the use of 6 months outcome as a time end-point in research. The GOSE does, however, not seem to be sensitive to actual change in function in the lower categories and a combination of outcome measures may be needed to describe the consequences after TBI.

Efecto del ácido tranexámico en sujetos con lesión cerebral traumática: metaanálisis

BackgroundWe performed a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). MethodsWe searched the literature for articles evaluating the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in TBI published between January 2012 and January 2021, and identified 8 studies with a total of 10860 patients: 5660 received TXA and 5200 served as controls. We used a dichotomous or continuous approach with a random or fixed-effect model to assess the efficacy and safety of TXA in TBI, and calculated the mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. ResultsIn patients with TBI, early administration of TXA was associated with a greater relative benefit (MD - 2.45; 95% CI = - 4.78- - 0.12; p = 0.04) and less total haematoma expansion (MD - 2.52; 95% CI = - 4.85- - 0.19; p = 0.03) compared to controls.There were no statistically significant differences in mortality (OR 0.94; 95% CI = 0.85-1.03; p = 0.18), presence of progressive haemorrhage (OR 0.75; 95% CI = 0.56-1.01; p = 0.06), need for neurosurgery (OR 1.15; 95% CI = 0.66-1.98; p = 0.63), high Disability Rating Scale score (OR 0.90; 95% CI = 0.56-1.45; p = 0.68), and incidence of ischaemic or thromboembolic complications (OR 1.34; 95% CI = 0.33-5.46; p = 0.68) between TBI patients treated with TXA and controls. ConclusionsEarly administration of TXA in TBI patients may have a greater relative benefit and may inhibit haematoma expansion. There were no significant differences in mortality, presence of progressive haemorrhage, need for neurosurgery, high Disability Rating Scale score, and incidence of ischaemic or thromboembolic complications between TBI patients treated with TXA and controls. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

The efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for patients with minimally conscious state: a sham-controlled randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a potentially effective neuromodulation technique for addressing neurological disorders, including disorders of consciousness. Expanding upon our prior clinical study, which demonstrated the superior effectiveness of a 4-week taVNS treatment in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) compared to those in a vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness state, the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the safety and therapeutic efficacy of taVNS in individuals with MCS through a sham-controlled randomized double-blind clinical trial. A cohort of 50 adult patients (male = 33, female = 17) diagnosed with a MCS were randomly assigned to either the active taVNS (N = 25) or sham taVNS (N = 25) groups. The treatment period lasted for 4 weeks, followed by an 8-week follow-up period. The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were administered at baseline and weekly during the initial 4 weeks. Additionally, the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) was used to assess the patients' functional abilities via telephone at week 12. Furthermore, various neurophysiological measures, including electroencephalogram (EEG), upper-limb somatosensory evoked potentials (USEP), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), and P300 event-related potentials (P300), were employed to monitor changes in brain activity and neural conduction pathways. The scores for the active taVNS group in the CRS-R and GCS showed greater improvement over time compared to the sham taVNS group (CRS-R: 1-week, Z = -1.248, p = 0.212; 2-week, Z = -1.090, p = 0.276; 3-week, Z = -2.017, p = 0.044; 4-week, Z = -2.267, p = 0.023. GCS: 1-week, Z = -1.325, p = 0.185; 2-week, Z = -1.245, p = 0.213; 3-week, Z = -1.848, p = 0.065; 4-week, Z = -1.990, p = 0.047). Additionally, the EEG, USEP, BAEP, and P300 also demonstrated significant improvement in the active taVNS group compared to the sham taVNS group at week 4 (EEG, Z = -2.086, p = 0.037; USEP, Z = -2.014, p = 0.044; BAEP, Z = -2.298, p = 0.022; P300 amplitude, Z = -1.974, p = 0.049; P300 latency, t = 2.275, p = 0.027). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with MCS derived greater benefits from receiving taVNS treatment earlier (CRS-R, Disease duration ≤ 1-month, mean difference = 8.50, 95% CI = [2.22, 14.78], p = 0.027; GCS, Disease duration ≤ 1-month, mean difference = 3.58, 95% CI = [0.14, 7.03], p = 0.044). By week 12, the active taVNS group exhibited lower Disability Rating Scale (DRS) scores compared to the sham taVNS group (Z = -2.105, p = 0.035), indicating a more favorable prognosis for MCS patients who underwent taVNS. Furthermore, no significant adverse events related to taVNS were observed during treatment. The findings of this study suggest that taVNS may serve as a potentially effective and safe intervention for facilitating the restoration of consciousness in individuals diagnosed with MCS. This therapeutic approach appears to enhance cerebral functioning and optimize neural conduction pathways. http://www.chictr.org.cn, Identifier ChiCTR2200066629.

The effect of amantadine on acute cognitive disability after severe traumatic brain injury: An institutional pilot study

BackgroundAmantadine is used in the post-acute care setting to improve cognitive function after a traumatic brain injury. Its utility in the acute postinjury period is unknown. In this pilot study, we sought to examine the effect of amantadine on short-term cognitive disability among patients with a severe traumatic brain injury and hypothesized that patients receiving amantadine would have a greater improvement in disability throughout their acute hospitalization. MethodsWe performed a prospective, observational study of patients ≥18 years with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8) at a level I trauma center between 2020 and 2022. Patients with penetrating trauma, death within 48 hours of admission, and no radiographic evidence of intracranial pathology were excluded. Patients were grouped according to whether they received amantadine. Our primary outcome was the change in cognitive disability, measured by the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), over the index hospitalization. ResultsThere were 55 patients in the cohort: 41.8% (n = 23) received amantadine and 58.2% (n = 32) did not. There were higher rates of motor vehicle collisions (65.2% vs 46.9%, P = .02), diffuse axonal injury (47.8% vs 18.8%, P = .02), intracranial pressure monitor use (73.9% vs 21.9%, P = .0001), and propranolol use (73.9% vs 21.9%, P = .0001) in the amantadine. There was a larger improvement in DRS scores among patients receiving amantadine (7.8 vs 3.6, P = .001), and amantadine independently predicted improvement in DRS scores (β, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.20–3.02, P = .03). Rates of discharge to traumatic brain injury rehabilitation were significantly higher in the amantadine group (73.9% vs 21.9%, P = .0002). ConclusionAmong patients with severe traumatic brain injury, amantadine use in the acute postinjury period may be associated with an improvement in cognitive disability and discharge to traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

Temporal Profiles of P-Tau, T-Tau, and P-Tau:Tau Ratios in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood from Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients and Relationship to 6-12 Month Global Outcomes.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can initiate progressive injury responses, which are linked to increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases known as "tauopathies." Increased post-TBI tau hyperphosphorylation has been reported in brain tissue and biofluids. Acute-to-chronic TBI total (T)-tau and phosphorylated (P)-tau temporal profiles in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum and their relationship to global outcome is unknown. Our multi-site longitudinal study examines these concurrent profiles acutely (CSF and serum) and also characterizes the acute- to-chronic serum patterns. Serial serum and CSF samples from individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI were obtained from two cohorts (acute, subacute, and chronic samples from University of Pittsburgh [UPitt] [n = 286 unique subjects] and acute samples from Baylor College of Medicine [BCM] [n = 114 unique subjects]) and assayed for T-tau and P-tau using the Rolling Circle Amplification-Surround Optical Fiber ImmunoAssay platform. Biokinetic analyses described serum T-tau and P-tau temporal patterns. T-tau and P-tau levels are compared with those in healthy controls (n = 89 for both CSF and serum), and univariate/multivariable associations are made with global outcome, including the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) scores at 3 and 6 months post-TBI (BCM cohort) and at 6 and 12 months post-TBI (UPitt cohort). For both the UPitt and BCM cohorts, temporal increases in median serum and CSF T-tau and P-tau levels occurred over the first 5 days post-injury, while the initial increases of P-tau:T-tau ratio plateaued by day 4 post-injury (UPitt: n = 99, BCM: n = 48). Biokinetic analyses with UPitt data showed novel findings that T-tau (n = 74) and P-tau (n = 87) reached delayed maximum levels at 4.5 and 5.1 days, while exhibiting long serum half-lives (152 and 123 days), respectively. The post-TBI rise in acute (days 2-6) serum P-tau (up to 276-fold) far outpaced that of T-tau (7.3-fold), leading to a P-tau:T-tau increase of up to 267-fold, suggesting a shift toward tau hyperphosphorylation. BCM analyses showed that days 0-6 mean CSF T-tau and P-tau levels and P-tau:T-tau ratios were associated with greater disability (DRS) (n = 48) and worse global outcome (GOS-E) (n = 48) 6 months post-injury. Days 0-6 mean serum T-tau, P-tau, and P-tau:T-tau ratio were not associated with outcome in either cohort (UPitt: n = 145 [DRS], n = 154 [GOS-E], BCM: n = 99 [DRS and GOS-E]). UPitt multivariate models showed that higher chronic (months 1-6) mean P-tau levels and P-tau:T-tau ratio, but not T-tau levels, are associated with greater disability (DRS: n = 119) and worse global outcomes (GOS-E: n = 117) 12 months post-injury. This work shows the potential importance of monitoring post-TBI T-tau and P-tau levels over time. This multi-site longitudinal study features concurrent acute TBI T-tau and P-tau profiles in CSF and serum, and also characterizes acute-to-chronic serum profiles. Longitudinal profiles, along with no temporal concordance between trajectory groups over time, imply a sustained post-TBI shift in tau phosphorylation dynamics that may favor tauopathy development chronically.

Association of Early Dexmedetomidine Utilization With Clinical and Functional Outcomes Following Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Transforming Clinical Research and Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Study.

To examine early sedation patterns, as well as the association of dexmedetomidine exposure, with clinical and functional outcomes among mechanically ventilated patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Retrospective cohort study with prospectively collected data. Eighteen Level-1 Trauma Centers, United States. Adult (age > 17) patients with msTBI (as defined by Glasgow Coma Scale < 13) who required mechanical ventilation from the Transforming Clinical Research and Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI) study. None. Using propensity-weighted models, we examined the association of early dexmedetomidine exposure (within the first 5 d of ICU admission) with the primary outcome of 6-month Glasgow Outcomes Scale Extended (GOS-E) and the following secondary outcomes: length of hospital stay, hospital mortality, 6-month Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and 6-month mortality. The study population included 352 subjects who required mechanical ventilation within 24 hours of admission. The initial sedative medication was propofol for 240 patients (68%), midazolam for 59 patients (17%), ketamine for 6 patients (2%), dexmedetomidine for 3 patients (1%), and 43 patients (12%) never received continuous sedation. Early dexmedetomidine was administered in 77 of the patients (22%), usually as a second-line agent. Compared with unexposed patients, early dexmedetomidine exposure was not associated with better 6-month GOS-E (weighted odds ratio [OR] = 1.48; 95% CI, 0.98-2.25). Early dexmedetomidine exposure was associated with lower DRS (weighted OR = -3.04; 95% CI, -5.88 to -0.21). In patients requiring ICP monitoring within the first 24 hours of admission, early dexmedetomidine exposure was associated with higher 6-month GOS-E score (OR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.24-3.80), lower DRS score (adjusted mean difference, -5.81; 95% CI, -9.38 to 2.25), and reduced length of hospital stay (hazard ratio = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.02-2.20). Variation exists in early sedation choice among mechanically ventilated patients with msTBI. Early dexmedetomidine exposure was not associated with improved 6-month functional outcomes in the entire population, although may have clinical benefit in patients with indications for ICP monitoring.

Long-Term Outcomes Over 20 Years in Persons With Persistent Disorders of Consciousness After Traumatic Brain Injury.

The long-term outcomes of patients with disorders of consciousness after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unclear. We investigated the long-term outcomes over 20 years in patients who were in a persistent vegetative state (VS). We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a review of medical records and collected data by telephone and written interviews with patients and their families. We included patients who were treated for TBI at our hospital, between October 1996 and January 2003 and who were in a persistent VS, defined as a Disability Rating Scale (DRS) score of ≥22 at 1 month after TBI. The DRS was administered at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and then annually out to 20 years. We evaluated their clinical course until July 2021 with the DRS. We analyzed 35 patients in a persistent VS attributable to TBI. We were able to confirm the 20-year outcomes for 26 of the 35 patients (74%); at 20 years post-TBI, 19 (54%) patients were found to be deceased and 7 (20%) were alive. Over the 20-year study period, 23 of the 35 patients (65.7%) emerged from a persistent VS. Among the 35 patients in a persistent VS at 1 month post-TBI, 20 (57%) emerged from a persistent VS within 1 year, and 3 patients (8.6%) emerged from a persistent VS after more than a year after injury. DRS scores improved up to 9 years post-injury, whereas the change in DRS scores from 10 to 20 years post-injury was within ±1 point in all patients. We found that patients with persistent VS attributable to TBI may show improvement in functional disability up to 10 years post-injury. On the other hand, no substantial improvement in functional disability was observed after the 10th year.

A Biopsychosocial Evaluation of Post-Acute Outcome of Patients with Severe Brain Lesions Recovering from Coma: An Exploratory Study.

Currently, very little is known about the holistic outcome of patients recovering from coma. The aim of this retrospective exploratory study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients recovering from coma after care in an acute neurorehabilitation unit with particular focus on their biopsychosocial and spiritual needs in the post-acute phase of recovery. We included 12 patients and evaluated clinical outcome evolution by comparing standard neurobehavioral scores from patient files measured in the acute and post-acute phases. We assessed patient needs using the Quality of Life after Brain Injury scale (QOLIBRI) and classified self-reported complaints mentioned in patient files according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework (ICF). Mean patient evolution was a Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCF)-r increase of 3.33 levels (range = 2); a Disability Rating Scale score (DRS) of -3.27 points (SD = 3.78); a Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) scale score of 1.83 (range = 5); and a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) median = 0 (Interquartile range = 1). Main patient complaints concerned mental functioning (n = 7), sensory functioning and pain (n = 6), neuromusculoskeletal and movement problems (n = 5), and major life areas (n = 5). To conclude, a significant handicap that affects their daily life was present in the post-acute phase in most patients. Complaints involved biopsychosocial and spiritual elements. The neurobehavioral scale results do not necessarily correlate with the subjective representations patients had of their condition.

Acute traumatic coma awakening by right median nerve electrical stimulation: a randomised controlled trial

PurposeSevere traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to acute coma and may result in prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDOC). We aimed to determine whether right median nerve electrical stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for accelerating emergence from coma after TBI.MethodsThis randomised controlled trial was performed in 22 centres in China. Participants with acute coma at 7–14 days after TBI were randomly assigned (1:1) to either routine therapy and right median nerve electrical stimulation (RMNS group) or routine treatment (control group). The RMNS group received 20 mA, 300 μs, 40 Hz stimulation pulses, lasting 20 s per minutes, 8 h per day, for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who regained consciousness 6 months post-injury. The secondary endpoints were Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Full Outline of Unresponsiveness scale (FOUR), Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) scores reported as medians on day 28, 3 months and 6 months after injury, and GCS and FOUR scores on day 1 and day 7 during stimulation. Primary analyses were based on the intention-to-treat set.ResultsBetween March 26, 2016, and October 18, 2020, 329 participants were recruited, of whom 167 were randomised to the RMNS group and 162 to the control group. At 6 months post-injury, a higher proportion of patients in the RMNS group regained consciousness compared with the control group (72.5%, n = 121, 95% confidence interval (CI) 65.2–78.7% vs. 56.8%, n = 92, 95% CI 49.1–64.2%, p = 0.004). GOSE at 3 months and 6 months (5 [interquartile range (IQR) 3–7] vs. 4 [IQR 2–6], p = 0.002; 6 [IQR 3–7] vs. 4 [IQR 2–7], p = 0.0005) and FOUR at 28 days (15 [IQR 13–16] vs. 13 [interquartile range (IQR) 11–16], p = 0.002) were significantly increased in the RMNS group compared with the control group. Trajectory analysis showed that significantly more patients in the RMNS group had faster GCS, CRS-R and DRS improvement (p = 0.01, 0.004 and 0.04, respectively). Adverse events were similar in both groups. No serious adverse events were associated with the stimulation device.ConclusionRight median nerve electrical stimulation is a possible effective treatment for patients with acute traumatic coma, that will require validation in a confirmatory trial.

Coma Recovery Scale-Revised Predicts Disability Rating Scale in Acute Rehabilitation of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

ObjectiveTo explore the prognostic value of the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) in predicting disability outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury using the Disability Rating Scale (DRS). DesignSecondary analysis including linear and logistic regressions were performed. SettingData were collected in a previous clinical trial. ParticipantsOne hundred eighty-four participants across 3 countries (N=184). Main Outcome MeasuresDisability Rating Scales. ResultsAnalyses showed an inverse relation between CRS-R scores obtained at baseline and change in DRS scores at 6 weeks. Similarly, changes in CRS-R scores between baseline and 4 weeks were also found to have an inverse relation to change in DRS scores at 6 weeks. ConclusionsThis study generates a tool that can be used to predict the probability that a patient with severe traumatic brain injury lands in 1 of 3 disability categories. The CRS-R may be useful in prognostication of disability in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Effects of delay in botulinum toxin treatment on patients with hyperkinetic facial disorders

Objective: Hyperkinetic facial disorders include Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB) and Hemifacial Spasm (HFS), which involve involuntary facial muscle contractions. Botulinum toxin (BTX) is essential for relieving symptoms. The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions have led to delays in receiving BTX treatment. This study aims to assess the impact of BTX treatment delays of affected patients. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively examined the data of 84 patients (68 HFS and 16 BEB) whose BTX appointments were delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Patient status was evaluated using Jankovic disability rating scale (JRS) scores, and administered BTX doses were documented and compared before and after lockdown. Results: After the BTX treatment delay, the JRS scores significantly increased from an average of 2.15±0.98 before the lockdown to 3.10±1.01 after the lockdown (p&lt;0.001). Furthermore, there was a noticeable increase in the average BTX treatment dose after the lockdown, from 36.45±1.32 units to 39.25±1.28 units (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Longer intervals between injections may increase disease severity and the effective BTX doses in patients with HFS and BEB. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of timely BTX therapy in managing hyperkinetic facial disorders.

Efficacy of median nerve electrical stimulation on the recovery of patients with consciousness disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To identify whether median nerve stimulation (MNS) may be a potential candidate for the treatment of consciousness disorders via a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese VIP Information, Wanfang, and SinoMed databases were searched. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), electroencephalogram (EEG), days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and cerebral blood flow measures were compared between the median nerve stimulation and control groups. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager software. We identified 2244 studies, of which 23 (with data from 1856 patients) qualified for the analysis. MNS improved GCS scores (mean difference [MD] = 2.15), EEG scores (MD = 1.61), cerebral mean blood flow velocity (MD = 4.23), and cerebral systolic blood flow velocity (MD = 10.51). Furthermore, it decreased DRS scores (MD = -1.77) and days in the ICU (MD = -2.02). The effects of MNS on GCS scores increased with longer treatments (1 week, MD = 1.03; 1 month, MD = 2.35) and were better with right MNS (right, MD = 2.36; bilateral, MD = 1.72). MNS may promote recovery from consciousness disorders.

Is frontoparietal electroencephalogram activity related to the level of functional disability in patients emerging from a minimally conscious state? A preliminary study.

ObjectiveWhen regaining consciousness, patients who emerge from a minimally conscious state (EMCS) present with different levels of functional disability, which pose great challenges for treatment. This study investigated the frontoparietal activity in EMCS patients and its effects on functional disability.Materials and methodsIn this preliminary study, 12 EMCS patients and 12 healthy controls were recruited. We recorded a resting-state scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) for at least 5 min for each participant. Each patient was assessed using the disability rating scale (DRS) to determine the level of functional disability. We analyzed the EEG power spectral density and sensor-level functional connectivity in relation to the patient’s functional disability.ResultsIn the frontoparietal region, EMCS patients demonstrated lower relative beta power (P < 0.01) and higher weighted phase lag index (wPLI) values in the theta (P < 0.01) and gamma (P < 0.01) bands than healthy controls. The frontoparietal theta wPLI values of EMCS patients were positively correlated with the DRS scores (rs = 0.629, P = 0.029). At the whole-brain level, EMCS patients only had higher wPLI values in the theta band (P < 0.01) than healthy controls. The whole-brain theta wPLI values of EMCS patients were also positively correlated with the DRS scores (rs = 0.650, P = 0.022). No significant difference in the power and connectivity between the frontoparietal region and the whole brain in EMCS patients was observed.ConclusionEMCS patients still experience neural dysfunction, especially in the frontoparietal region. However, the theta connectivity in the frontoparietal region did not increase specifically. At the level of the whole brain, the same shift could also be seen. Theta functional connectivity in the whole brain may underlie different levels of functional disability.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy promotes consciousness, cognitive function, and prognosis recovery in patients following traumatic brain injury through various pathways.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the clinical curative effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment and its mechanism in improving dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI).MethodsPatients were enrolled into control and HBO groups. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) scores were used to measure consciousness; the Rancho Los Amigos scale-revised (RLAS-R) score was used to assess cognitive impairment; the Stockholm computed tomography (CT) score, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and biomarkers, including neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100β), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were used to assess TBI severity. The patients were followed up 6 months after discharge and assessed with the Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOSE), functional independence measure (FIM), and the disability rating scale (DRS).ResultsThe CRS-R scores were higher in the HBO group than the control group at 10 days after treatment. The RLAS-R scores were higher in the HBO group than the control group at 10 and 20 days after treatment. The Stockholm CT scores were significantly lower in the HBO group than the control group at 10 days after treatment. HBO depressed the (δ + θ)/(α + β) ratio (DTABR) of EEG, with lower δ band relative power and higher α band relative power than those in the control group. At 20 days after treatment, the expression of NSE, S100β, and GFAP in the HBO group was lower than that in controls, whereas the expression of BDNF, NGF, and VEGF in the HBO group was higher than that in controls. Six months after discharge, the HBO group had lower DRS scores and higher FIM and GOSE scores than the control group significantly.ConclusionsHBO may be an effective treatment for patients with TBI to improve consciousness, cognitive function and prognosis through decreasing TBI-induced hematoma volumes, promoting the recovery of EEG rhythm, and modulating the expression of serum NSE, S100β, GFAP, BDNF, NGF, and VEGF.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of Neuroendoscopic Surgery versus Traditional Craniotomy on Surgical Success Rate, Postoperative Complications, and Prognosis in Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective A case-control study was adopted to explore the effect of neuroendoscopy compared with traditional craniotomy on the success rate, postoperative complications, and prognosis of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods The clinical data of 106 patients with ICH treated in our hospital from March 2019 to June 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively and divided into two groups according to different treatment methods. The patients who were cured by craniotomy were in the control group (n = 53), and those who received neuroendoscopic surgery were in the research group (n = 53).The clinical efficacy of patients was compared, and the cognition and daily living ability were evaluated by the Trier cognitive assessment scale, limb motor function score, and activity of daily living scale. The National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were used to compare the neurological function of the two groups before and after treatment, and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) and disability rating scale (DRS) were adopted to evaluate the functional prognosis. The simplified Fugl-Meyer motor function score was adopted to evaluate the patient's limb function, the Montreal cognitive assessment scale was adopted to evaluate the patient's cognitive function, the Barthel index score was adopted to evaluate the daily living ability of patients, and the treatment of patients was recorded. Results In comparison with groups, the effective rate of treatment in the research group was higher, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Regarding the surgical indicators, the hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative residual blood flow, and total hospital stay in the research group were remarkably lower, the hematoma clearance rate in the research group was remarkably higher, and the difference between groups was statistically significant(P < 0.05). After operation, the KPS scores indicated a gradual upward trend, and those of the research group were higher at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after operation. The Barthel index scores were compared. After treatment, the Barthel index scores increased. In comparison with the two groups, the Barthel index scores of the research group were higher at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after surgery, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The NIHSS, GCS, and DRS scores were compared. After treatment, the NIHSS, GCS, and DRS scores were decreased. In comparison with the two groups, the NIHSS, GCS, and DRS scores of the research group were remarkably lower, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). With regard to the cognitive and physical function recovery after treatment, the MoCA score and Fugl-Meyer score of the research group were remarkably higher, and the difference between groups was statistically significant(P < 0.05). The quality of life scores was compared. After treatment, the quality of life scores decreased. In comparison with the two groups, the scores of physiological function, psychological function, social function, and healthy self-awareness of the research group were lower, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the research group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Compared with conventional craniotomy, neuroendoscopic surgery can remarkably reduce the operation time and blood loss, enhance the hematoma clearance rate, and have a better prognosis, which is more conducive to the recovery of postoperative neurological function, life activities, and quality of life of patients.

Risk Factors and Neurological Outcomes Associated With Circulatory Shock After Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A TRACK-TBI Study.

Extracranial multisystem organ failure is a common sequela of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Risk factors for developing circulatory shock and long-term functional outcomes of this patient subset are poorly understood. To identify emergency department predictors of circulatory shock after moderate-severe TBI and examine long-term functional outcomes in patients with moderate-severe TBI who developed circulatory shock. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Transforming Clinical Research and Knowledge in TBI database for adult patients with moderate-severe TBI, defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of <13 and stratified by the development of circulatory shock within 72 hours of hospital admission (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥2). Demographic and clinical data were assessed with descriptive statistics. A forward selection regression model examined risk factors for the development of circulatory shock. Functional outcomes were examined using multivariable regression models. Of our moderate-severe TBI population (n = 407), 168 (41.2%) developed circulatory shock. Our predictive model suggested that race, computed tomography Rotterdam scores <3, GCS in the emergency department, and development of hypotension in the emergency department were associated with developing circulatory shock. Those who developed shock had less favorable 6-month functional outcomes measured by the 6-month GCS-Extended (odds ratio 0.36, P = .002) and 6-month Disability Rating Scale score (Diff. in means 3.86, P = .002) and a longer length of hospital stay (Diff. in means 11.0 days, P < .001). We report potential risk factors for circulatory shock after moderate-severe TBI. Our study suggests that developing circulatory shock after moderate-severe TBI is associated with poor long-term functional outcomes.

Developing a model of return to school: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems study

ABSTRACT Objective A common goal for those recovering from moderate to severe brain injury is to reengage in education or employment. There is significant overlap between the skills relevant for successful job and academic performance in high school and college, and many deficits reported after brain injury are consistent across young adults and adults. This study utilized a return to work (RTW) model framework to develop a model of return to school (RTS). Method Days of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), length of stay (LOS), rehabilitation discharge Disability Rating Scale (DRS) scores, presence of pre-injury learning limitation, and educational level were used to predict RTS one-year post-injury in a student sample (N = 158, 58.8% white, 69.6% male) within the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database. Results The overall RTS rate for this sample was 62%. Logistic regression indicated that lower DRS discharge scores and being in high school pre-injury resulted in the best outcome. Conclusion Results showed partial support for the translation of RTW factors to a student sample; however, results may also favor the conceptual distinction in RTS versus RTW, which are elaborated. More outreach for college students may improve awareness of disability services, thereby heightening the future return rate.