Functional Recovery and Life Satisfaction in the First Year After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Multicenter Study of a Norwegian National Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the impact of demographic and acute injury-related variables on functional recovery and life satisfaction after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and (2) to test whether postinjury functioning, postconcussive symptoms, emotional state, and functional improvement are related to life satisfaction. DESIGN: Prospective national multicenter study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma centers in Norway. PARTICIPANTS: 163 adults with sTBI. MAIN MEASURES: Functional recovery between 3 and 12 months postinjury measured with Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and satisfaction with life situation. RESULTS: 60% of cases experienced functional improvement from 3 to 12 months postinjury. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that discharge to a rehabilitation department from acute care (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14; P < .05) and fewer days with artificial ventilation (OR = 1.04; P < .05) were significantly related to improvement. At 12 months postinjury, 85% were independent in daily activities. Most participants (63%) were satisfied with their life situation. Regression analysis revealed that older age (>65 years), low education, better functional outcome, and the absence of depressive and postconcussion symptoms were significant (P < .05) predictors of life satisfaction. Functional improvement was significantly associated with emotional state but not to life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Following sTBI, approximately two-thirds of survivors improve between 3 and 12 months postinjury and are satisfied with their life. Direct discharge from acute care to specialized rehabilitation appears to increase functional recovery.

Rate of disorders of consciousness in a prospective population-based study of adults with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Establish rate of disorders of consciousness (DOC) and course of recovery in adults who have sustained severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). SETTING: Four Norwegian neurosurgical departments. PARTICIPANTS: Vegetative or minimally conscious patients. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal population-based study of adults with sTBI with follow-ups at 3, 12, and 24-36 months postinjury. MAIN MEASURES: Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, Glasgow Coma Scale, Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale, and Disability Rating Scale. RESULTS: Three months postinjury, 2% of the sTBI population remained in a vegetative or minimally conscious state, reduced by the half after 1 year, corresponding to average annual age-adjusted incidence rates of DOC of 0.09 per 100 000 3 months post-sTBI. At 3 and 12 months, the incidence was 0.06 and 0.01 per 100 000 for the vegetative state and 0.03 and 0.04 per 100 000 for the minimally conscious state. Diagnostic categorization was stable between 12 and 24-36 months, although clinically relevant improvements were observed in minimally conscious patients. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that prolonged DOC is rare following sTBI in Norway, contrary to the commonly held belief that improvements in intensive care treatment have resulted in an increased incidence of DOC. Prolonged DOC was associated with severity of injury, subcortical lesions, and diffuse axonal injury.