Brain injury : [BI]
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jul 2000
Comparative StudyNeurobehavioural outcomes of penetrating and tangential gunshot wounds to the head.
The objective of this study was to compare penetrating and tangential gunshot wounds to the head with regards to demographic, neurobehavioural and clinical outcome measures. ⋯ Initially, a penetrating gunshot wound is a more severe and costly injury than a tangential gunshot wound to the head, however T-GSW possess significant deficits and, if the patient survives past the acute phase of recovery, the two groups have similar functional outcomes. Future standard classification, neuropsychological, and clinical outcome measures.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Mar 2000
Comparative StudyEvaluating the usage of droperidol in acutely agitated persons with brain injury.
The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of intramuscular droperidol to other intramuscularly administered agents used in the management of acutely agitated patients. Twenty-seven inpatients with a history of brain injury were prospectively monitored over a period of 2 months. Data collected for each episode of agitation include: dose, number of doses, time to achieve an adequate response or calming effect, post-episodic functioning, treatment-emergent side effects, and other patient demographics. ⋯ Both groups were similar in regard to the incidence of treatment-emergent events. This data represents the first published experience supporting the effectiveness of droperidol in reducing acute agitation in persons with brain injury. Follow-up studies with prospective, double-blind, parallel treatment groups should be performed to validate these preliminary findings.
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To determine the frequency and nature of post-TBI personality disorders (PDs) in a community-based sample of individuals with TBI. ⋯ These findings argue against a specific TBI personality syndrome, but rather a diversity of personality disorders reflective of the persistent challenges and compensatory coping strategies developed by individuals post-TBI. Prospective need for clinical assessment, pro-active education and focused treatment approaches are discussed.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Nov 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCognitive and behavioural efficacy of amantadine in acute traumatic brain injury: an initial double-blind placebo-controlled study.
The objective of the current study was to determine the efficacy of amantadine in improving cognitive and behavioural performance in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation sample. The design was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Subjects were 10 adult traumatic brain injury patients in an acute brain injury rehabilitation unit. ⋯ In conclusion, although patients generally improved, this initial exploratory study found no differences in rate of cognitive improvement between subjects given amantadine versus those given placebo. However, the small sample size, heterogeneous population, acute time course, and large number of dependent variables limit power and generalizability. Implications are discussed for further research to better answer questions regarding efficacy of amantadine post-TBI.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jul 1999
ReviewCognitive and psychosocial outcome following moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.
The outcome of 96 consecutive adult patients with moderate to severe head injury was sequentially measured at 6, 12 and 24 months post-injury. In addition to global outcome using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and a battery of neuropsychological tests of cognitive function, the Head Injury Symptom Checklist (HISC) and Relative's Questionnaire (RQ) were used. Although poorer GOS scores and severe cognitive impairments were typically associated with greater severity of initial injury, relatives reported similar functional problems irrespective of injury severity. This illustrates the legacy of moderate head injury in influencing many aspects of everyday life, supporting the argument that the needs of this group should not be overlooked.