Articles: traumatic-brain-injuries.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2016
Modelling of community integration trajectories in the first 5 years after traumatic brain injury.
The aims of this study were to assess the trajectories of community integration in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through one, two, and five years post-injury and to examine whether those trajectories could be predicted by demographic and injury characteristics. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with 105 individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI admitted to a trauma referral center in 2005-2007. Demographics and injury-related factors were extracted from medical records. ⋯ Additionally, higher trajectories of community integration were predicted by being single at the time of injury (p<.001), higher level of education (p=0.006), employment (p<0.001), and a shorter length of PTA (p<0.001). In a follow-up HLM with interaction terms, time*PTA was statistically significant (p<0.001), suggesting that participants with longer PTA increased in community integration more rapidly than those with shorter PTA. The longitudinal course of community integration described in this study may help rehabilitation professionals to plan more extensive follow-ups and targeted rehabilitation programs in the early stage of recovery for patients with specific demographic and injury characteristics.
-
Journal of neurotrauma · Jan 2016
Traumatic Brain Injury Impairs SNARE Complex Formation and Alters Synaptic Vesicle Distribution in the Hippocampus.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) impairs neuronal function and can culminate in lasting cognitive impairment. While impaired neurotransmitter release has been well established after experimental TBI, little is understood about the mechanisms underlying this consequence. In the synapse, vesicular docking and neurotransmitter release requires the formation of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex. ⋯ Synapses in the hippocampus were imaged at 100k magnification, and vesicle distribution was assessed in pre-synaptic terminals at the active zone. CCI resulted in a significant reduction in vesicle number within 150 nm of the active zone. These findings provide the first evidence of TBI-induced impairments in synaptic vesicle docking, and suggest that reductions in the pool of readily releasable vesicles and impaired SNARE complex formation are two novel mechanisms contributing to impaired neurotransmission after TBI.
-
J Neurosurg Pediatr · Jan 2016
Standardizing ICU management of pediatric traumatic brain injury is associated with improved outcomes at discharge.
OBJECT The goal of critical care in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) is to reduce secondary brain injury by limiting cerebral ischemia and optimizing cerebral blood flow. The authors compared short-term outcomes as defined by discharge disposition and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores in children with TBI before and after the implementation of a protocol that standardized decision-making and interventions among neurosurgeons and pediatric intensivists. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective pre- and postprotocol study of 128 pediatric patients with severe TBI, as defined by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores < 8, admitted to a tertiary care center pediatric critical care unit between April 1, 2008, and May 31, 2014. ⋯ After protocol implementation, 9 patients (31%) had unfavorable disposition, while 20 patients (69%) had favorable disposition (p = 0.002). In the preprotocol group, 31 patients (31%) died while 6 patients (21%) died after protocol implementation (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Discharge disposition and mortality rates in pediatric patients with severe TBI improved after implementation of a standardized protocol among caregivers based on best-practice guidelines.
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
Preliminary findings on biomarker levels from extracerebral sources in patients undergoing trauma surgery: Potential implications for TBI outcome studies.
Despite several experimental studies on the role of S100B and NSE in fractures, no studies on the influence of surgery on the biomarker serum levels have been performed yet. ⋯ This study demonstrates significant alterations of the biomarker S100B serum levels in patients undergoing surgery. Higher S100B serum levels were found within 24 hours and might be related to the acute fracture. The NSE serum levels were unchanged and this biomarker may offer the probability to serve as a future outcome predictor in studies with patients with traumatic brain injury and additional extracerebral injuries.
-
Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2016
Tracheostomy risk factors and outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury.
To determine risk factors associated with tracheostomy placement after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent outcomes among those who did and did not receive a tracheostomy. ⋯ Age and insurance status are independently associated with tracheostomy placement, but not with mortality after severe TBI. Tracheostomy placement is associated with increased survival after severe TBI.