148
Views
11
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original

Establishing a prognosis for functional outcome during coma recovery

, Dr. PH, MA, CCC-SLP/L, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 743-758 | Received 03 Aug 2005, Accepted 02 Mar 2006, Published online: 03 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Primary objective: One of the most challenging tasks for clinicians caring for survivors of severe brain injury (BI) is establishing a prognosis, for long-term functional outcome, while the patient is unconscious. The objective of this article is to report findings regarding the prediction of functional outcomes 1-year after severe BI using data available when the patient is unconscious.

Research design: Longitudinal prognostication study.

Methods and procedures: Persons unconscious after severe BI who present to inpatient (IP) rehabilitation hospitals in the Midwestern US are enrolled in an ongoing study. Each subject is followed for 1-year and the final outcome interview includes ∼70 questions; 32 of these questions are from the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART). A sample of 63 persons was abstracted from the study database to examine the predictability of 42 independent variables and 16 dichotomous outcomes.

Main outcomes and results: Twelve of the 16 dichotomous outcomes were found to be significantly predictable (p < 0.05). These involve activity, participation, environment and quality of life outcomes. Ten predictors were found to be significant (p < 0.05): aetiology (Closed Head Injury vs. Other BI), presence of urinary tract infection (UTI), seizure, hypertension during IP rehabilitation, veteran benefit eligibility, health insurance, marital status at injury, whether or not recovery of consciousness occurred within 1 year, the number of days between injury and admission to acute rehabilitation and the average length of IP rehabilitation stay. Eight of the 10 variables are available early after injury or when the patient is unconscious.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 727.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.