Brain injury : [BI]
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Case ReportsImpact of post-traumatic hypersomnia on functional recovery of cognition and communication.
To assess aspects of cognition and communication, in response to the treatment of post-traumatic hypersomnia and mood disturbance. ⋯ A comprehensive pharmacological management programme addressing the multi-factorial underlying aetiology was successful in improving sleep, arousal and mood. The D-CCASP was found to be clinically and statistically sensitive to reported changes in cognitive-communication function in relation to improvements in sleep and daytime arousal. These findings suggest that management of sleep/wake disturbances and mood post-traumatic brain injury can potentially facilitate improvements in cognitive-communication function which may, in turn, facilitate participation in rehabilitation and community integration.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Case ReportsSource imaging of QEEG as a method to detect awareness in a person in vegetative state.
Assessment of awareness in patients with severe brain injury remains subjective, although patients with even limited awareness (e.g. minimal conscious state, MCS) have different prognoses and treatment than those in vegetative state (VS). Recently, task appropriate differential regional activation in VS has been reported using fMRI during mental imagery. ⋯ Results from this single case suggests the potential utility of QEEG source localization images to detect awareness in patients clinically diagnosed as being in VS. This indicates the possibility that EEG may serve as an important adjunct to the assessment of awareness in patients with disorders of consciousness in the clinical setting.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Validation of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale: a brief measure to identify acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury.
To validate the use of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale (A-WPTAS) in the assessment of acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). ⋯ The A-WPTAS is a valid measure. The A-WPTAS may reduce the risk of failing to classify patients with mTBI by identifying and documenting acute cognitive impairment.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
A prospective study of early versus late craniectomy after traumatic brain injury.
Decompressive craniectomy is an important method for managing traumatic brain injury (TBI). At present, controversies about this procedure exist, especially about the optimum operative time for patients with TBI. ⋯ Early decompressive craniectomy as a first-tier therapy for intracranial hypertension did not improve patient outcome when compared with "late" decompressive craniectomy for managing TBI.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Long-term outcome and health status in decompressive craniectomized patients with intractable intracranial pressure after severe brain injury.
Decompressive craniectomy (DC) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a controversial therapeutic strategy. The long-term functional recovery and health status in a sample of decompressive craniectomized TBI are reported. ⋯ Craniectomized patients with TBI achieved good long-term outcome, although they experienced significant difficulties in health status.