Traumatic axonal injury and persistent emotional lability in an adolescent following moderate traumatic brain injury: A case study

Abstract

A 15-year-old male was treated secondary to sustaining a moderate traumatic brain injury (moderate TBI). Symptom self-report, and computerized and paper-and-pencil-based neurocognitive, vestibular/ocular motor, and imaging data were used throughout to document impairment and recovery. The patient demonstrated persistent emotional lability concurrent with vestibular impairment. In addition to clinical evaluation and management, the patient also underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging, which revealed axonal shearing across the corpus callosum and areas innervating the prefrontal cortex. Paper-and-pencil neurocognitive measures revealed persisting deficits, despite normal-appearing computerized test results. Implications of this case underline the importance of an integrative evaluation process including clinical interview, neurocognitive and vestibular/ocular physical therapy, and advanced neuroimaging, especially in cases with atypical presentation.

Keywords:

• Moderate traumatic brain injury
• Neuropsychology
• Vestibular dysfunction
• Susceptibility-weighted imaging
• Emotional lability
• Neuroimaging