Outcome after severe brain damage, what makes the difference?

• Published in: Brain injury 2005-07, Vol.19 (7), p.493-503
• Main Authors: Sörbo, A., Rydenhag, B., Sunnerhagen, K. S., Blomqvist, M., Svensson, S., Emanuelson, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Brain Injuries - rehabilitation; Continuity of Patient Care; Cross-Sectional Studies; early rehabilitation; Employment; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glasgow Outcome Scale; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; outcome; Rehabilitation Centers; Severe brain injury; Time Factors; Trauma Severity Indices; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699050400013709

Objective: To assess and compare the consequences for outcome in terms of the dimensions of activity and participation for two groups: group A, which received early formalized rehabilitation, and group B, which received late or no formalized rehabilitation. Research design: A cross-sectional study. Procedure: Twenty-six patients (A: n = 14 and B: n = 12) with severe brain damage were included. The participants were assessed a mean of 26.6 months (SD 7.1, median 25, range 14-41) after the incident using the structured form for the Swedish Neuro database, the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: The study reveals a better outcome for group A. No patient remained in a vegetative state in group A as compared with three in group B. In group A, 50% were independent as compared with 17% in group B. The frequency of return to work was 43% in group A, but no patient in group B had returned to work.