The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Aug 2001
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyLong-term recovery course after traumatic brain injury: a comparison of the functional independence measure and disability rating scale.
To study group changes over time after traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ DRS is more sensitive to changes during a shorter time period than FIM and seems to be more appropriate for detecting long-term deficits. However, research studies aimed at detecting meaningful changes year to year after TBI may need to use other tools or consider changes among individuals instead of group changes. DRS Level of Function and Employability Items represent complex functions expected to recover later than the more basic DRS items. Sole use of these two DRS items might provide an efficient means of measuring long-term recovery when resources are limited, whereas expansion of these two items might allow greater sensitivity and detail.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Apr 2001
ReviewQuantitative magnetic resonance imaging in traumatic brain injury.
Quantitative neuroimaging has now become a well-established method for analyzing magnetic resonance imaging in traumatic brain injury (TBI). A general review of studies that have examined quantitative changes following TBI is presented. ⋯ Various clinical caveats are provided including how quantitative neuroimaging findings can be used clinically and in predicting rehabilitation outcome. The future of quantitative neuroimaging also is discussed.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Apr 2001
Comparative StudyMetabolic recovery following human traumatic brain injury based on FDG-PET: time course and relationship to neurological disability.
Utilizing [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), we assessed the temporal pattern and the correlation of functional and metabolic recovery following human traumatic brain injury. ⋯ The dynamic profile of CMRglc that changes following traumatic brain injury is seemingly stereotypic across a broad range and severity of injury types. Quantitative FDG-PET cannot be used as a surrogate technique for estimating degree of global functional recovery following traumatic brain injury.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the principal cause of death and disability for young Americans, with an estimated societal cost of over $39 billion per year. The Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program (DVHIP) represents a close collaboration among the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Brain Injury Association (BIA), and the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA). ⋯ It is thus based on a prudent integration of clinical care and follow-up with programmatic clinical and clinically related laboratory research, TBI prevention, and education. This previously nonexistent clinical infrastructure now offers a valuable base for ongoing TBI clinical research.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Aug 2000
ReviewEcological validity of neuropsychological assessment in childhood traumatic brain injury.
Empirical investigation of the degree to which testing predicts children's real-world functioning following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is sparse. This article reviews the research in neuropsychology, which offers only moderate correlations between test scores and everyday functioning. ⋯ Ecologically valid assessment may require multiple data sources. More research is needed to respond effectively to questions about children's everyday functioning after traumatic brain injury.