Evaluation and Pharmacologic Management of Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) can occur in up to 10% of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and is associated with poorer outcomes. A consensus regarding management is lacking. We provide a practical guide on the multi-faceted clinical management of PSH, including pharmacological, procedural and non-pharmacological interventions. In addition to utilizing a standardized assessment tool, the use of medications to manage sympathetic and musculoskeletal manifestations (including pain) is highlighted. Recent studies investigating new approaches to clinical management are included in this review of pharmacologic treatment options. CONCLUSION: While studies regarding pharmacologic selection for PSH are limited, this paper suggests a clinical approach to interventions based on predominant symptom presentation (sympathetic hyperactivity, pain and/or muscle hypertonicity) and relevant medication side effects.

Crash Risk Following Return to Driving After Moderate-to-Severe TBI: A TBI Model Systems Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine motor vehicle crash frequency and risk factors following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). SETTING: Eight TBI Model Systems sites. Participants: Adults ( N = 438) with TBI who required inpatient acute rehabilitation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational design. MAIN MEASURES: Driving survey completed at phone follow-up 1 to 30 years after injury. RESULTS: TBI participants reported 1.5 to 2.5 times the frequency of crashes noted in the general population depending on the time frame queried, even when accounting for unreported crashes. Most reported having no crashes; for those who experienced a crash, half of them reported a single incident. Based on logistic regression, age at survey, years since injury, and perception of driving skills were significantly associated with crashes. CONCLUSION: Compared with national statistics, crash risk is higher following TBI based on self-report. Older age and less time since resuming driving were associated with lower crash risk. When driving was resumed was not associated with crash risk. These results do not justify restricting people from driving after TBI, given that the most who resumed driving did not report experiencing any crashes. However, there is a need to identify and address factors that increase crash risk after TBI.

Barriers to driving and psychosocial outcomes after traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Examine considerations and perceived barriers to return to driving, and their association with psychosocial outcomes among adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were not driving. METHODS: 174 adults with moderate-to-severe TBI enrolled in the TBI Model System participated in this cross-sectional study. All participants were drivers prior to their TBI. Outcome measures included the Barriers to Driving Questionnaire, Disability Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Satisfaction With Life Scale. Descriptive analyses examined considerations and barriers to driving, including differences associated with demographic characteristics. Moderation analyses investigated the extent to which disability moderated the relationship between barriers and psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: Social barriers were the most strongly endorsed domain, whereas physical barriers were endorsed least. The profile of endorsements differed for men and women, and for Black and White participants, on both theoretical considerations in returning to drive and experiences of barriers in doing so. Disability level moderated the relationship between barriers to driving and depression and life satisfaction, but not anxiety. CONCLUSION: The experience of barriers to driving is differentially associated with psychosocial outcomes among nondriving adults with TBI. Adults with low disability appear to be at risk for distress, even compared to other nondrivers.

Return to Driving After Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Study.

OBJECTIVE: Describe who is able to return to driving (RTD) after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), when this occurs, who maintains that activity, and the association with outcome. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Eight follow-up sites of the TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) program. PARTICIPANTS: 618 participants enrolled in the TBIMS and 88 caregivers (N=706). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A survey was completed from 1-30 years postinjury focusing on RTD. Descriptors included demographic information, injury severity, and current employment status. Outcome was assessed at the time of the interview, including depression, quality of life, functional status, and community participation. RESULTS: Of 706 respondents, 78% (N = 552) RTD, but 14% (N = 77) of these did not maintain that activity. Of those who RTD, 43% (N = 192) did so within 6 months of the injury and 92% did so within 24 months postinjury. The percentage of people driving after TBI did not differ significantly based on age at time of injury or follow-up. There were significant differences between drivers and nondrivers with respect to severity of injury, seizures, race, education, employment, rural vs urban setting, marital status, and family income. We performed a multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between driving status and demographic variables, adjusting for other variables in the model. The strongest associations were with current employment, family income, race, seizures, and severity of injury. Driving was associated with greater community participation, better functional outcomes, fewer symptoms of depression, and greater life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Over a span of 30 years, three-quarters of people experiencing moderate-to-severe TBI return to driving a personal vehicle, although not everyone maintains this activity. Employment, race, family income, and seizures are strongly associated with RTD.

Driving patterns, confidence, and perception of abilities following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a TBI model system study.

OBJECTIVE: Describe driving patterns following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants: Adults (N = 438) with TBI that required inpatient acute rehabilitation who had resumed driving. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational design. SETTING: Eight TBI Model System sites. MAIN MEASURES: A driving survey was completed at phone follow-up. RESULTS: Most respondents reported driving daily, although 41% reported driving less than before their injury. Driving patterns were primarily associated with employment, family income, sex, residence, and time since injury, but not injury severity. Confidence in driving was high for most participants and was associated with a perception that the TBI had not diminished driving ability. Lower confidence and perceived loss of ability were associated with altered driving patterns. CONCLUSION: Most people with moderate-to-severe TBI resume driving but perhaps not at pre-injury or normal levels compared to healthy drivers. Some driving situations are restricted. The relationship between low confidence/perceived loss of ability and driving patterns/restrictions suggests people with TBI are exhibiting some degree of caution consistent with those perceptions. Careful assessment of driving skills and monitoring during early stages of RTD is warranted, particularly for younger, male, and/or single drivers who express higher levels of confidence.

Pharmacotherapy for Treatment of Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After mTBI.

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms are extremely common following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as concussion. Although most patients will recovery rapidly, a significant minority go on to experience persistent symptoms. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for treatment of cognitive and neuropsychiatric problems in the context of mild TBI, yet a number of agents are prescribed "off-label" for these complaints. Rigorous trials are lacking, but there are a number of open-label studies, and some small randomized controlled trials that support the safety and possible efficacy of pharmacotherapies in this population. Clinical trials conducted in samples with more severe brain injuries can also serve as a guide. METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: There is the most support in the literature for the neurostimulant methylphenidate for treatment of mild TBI-related cognitive dysfunction, and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline, for the treatment of postinjury depression. There is clearly a need for more well-designed studies to guide clinicians in selecting the appropriate medication and dose. Without clear guidance from the literature, a cautious approach of starting low and titrating slowly is recommended.

Effects of dextroamphetamine in subacute traumatic brain injury: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Psychostimulants that affect neurotransmitters implicated in cognitive function and neural plasticity have potential to enhance the rate and extent of recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Ten milligrams dextroamphetamine (DEX) or an identical placebo was administered daily for 3 weeks to 32 participants with moderate to severe TBI, engaged in inpatient rehabilitation, at a mean of 2 months post injury. A variety of outcome measures assessing cognitive function and overall functional status was administered at weekly intervals, to examine effect sizes that may inform a larger trial, and to evaluate safety. Results indicated trivial-to-small effect sizes for DEX-placebo differences, with the largest effects seen on speed of information processing (more improvement with DEX) and agitation (exacerbation with DEX). Examination of adverse events and vital signs suggested safety of DEX, but the pattern of results did not suggest accelerated recovery due to the drug. Future trials of DEX in this population need to consider the impact of floor effects of commonly used measures of cognitive and physical function, and the heterogeneity of TBI. Although the small sample precludes definitive conclusions, these findings are not encouraging with regard to clinical trials of DEX in subacute TBI.

Fully Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: A Multi-Site Case Series With Two-Year Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and safety of a single-lead, fully implantable peripheral nerve stimulation system for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain in stroke survivors. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with moderate to severe shoulder pain not responsive to conservative therapies for six months. METHODS: During the trial phase, which included a blinded sham introductory period, a percutaneous single-lead peripheral nerve stimulation system was implanted to stimulate the axillary nerve of the affected shoulder. After a three-week successful trial, participants received an implantable pulse generator with an electrode placed to stimulate the axillary nerve of the affected shoulder. Outcomes included pain, pain interference, pain-free external rotation range of motion, quality of life, and safety. Participants were followed for 24 months. RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants underwent trial stimulation and five participants received an implantable pulse generator. The participants who received the implantable generator experienced an improvement in pain severity (p = 0.0002). All five participants experienced a 50% or greater pain reduction at 6 and 12 months, and four experienced at least a 50% reduction at 24 months. There was an improvement in pain interference (p < 0.0001). There was an improvement in pain-free external ROM (p = 0.003). There were no serious adverse events related to the device or to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This case series demonstrates the safety and efficacy of a fully implantable axillary PNS system for chronic HSP. Participants experienced reduction in pain, reduction in pain interference, and improved pain-free external rotation ROM. There were no serious adverse events associated with the system or the procedure.

Risk Factors for Institutionalization After Traumatic Brain Injury Inpatient Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To create a profile of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who received inpatient rehabilitation and were discharged to an institutional setting using characteristics measured at rehabilitation discharge. METHODS: The Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database is a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal database for people with moderate to severe TBI. We analyzed data for participants enrolled from January 2002 to June 2012 who had lived in a private residence before TBI. This cross-sectional study used logistic regression analyses to identify sociodemographic factors, lengths of stay, and cognitive and physical functioning levels that differentiated patients discharged to institutional versus private settings. RESULTS: Older age, living alone before TBI, and lower levels of function at rehabilitation discharge (independence in locomotion, bladder management, comprehension, and social interaction) were significantly associated with higher institutionalization rates and provided the best models identifying factors associated with institutionalization. Institutionalization was also associated with decreased independence in bed-chair-wheelchair transfers and increased duration of posttraumatic amnesia. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals institutionalized after inpatient rehabilitation for TBI were older, lived alone before injury, had longer posttraumatic amnesia durations, and were less independent in specific functional characteristics. Research evaluating the effect of increasing postdischarge support and improving treatment effectiveness in these functional areas is recommended.

Improving Outcomes in Patients With Refractory Idiopathic and Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity: Management Strategies.

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is a lower urinary tract dysfunction commonly seen in rehabilitation settings. The emotional, medical, and financial consequences of NDO can be substantial and management typically requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Physiatrists need to be able to identify patients who require referral to specialists for diagnostic testing or higher-tiered treatment and need to engender open lines of communication between their patients and all treating clinicians. This requires an understanding of the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions.

Prevalence of Self-Reported COVID-19 Infection in Persons with Complicated Mild to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI Model Systems Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of self-reported COVID-19 history in a longitudinal cohort of individuals with complicated mild to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and describe demographic, injury and functional differences based on history of COVID-19 infection. DESIGN: Individuals with complicated mild to severe TBI aged 16 or older at time of injury who were enrolled in the TBI Model Systems longitudinal cohort study, completed a baseline or follow-up interview between October 1, 2021-March 31, 2023, and provided information about COVID-19 history and timing of COVID-19 infection was collected. RESULTS: Of the 3,627 individuals included in the analysis, 29.5% reported a history of COVID-19 infection. Those with reported COVID-19 history tended to be younger, not of a racial/ethnic minority background, and greater functional status at follow up based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended scale compared to those with no reported COVID-19 history (p < 0.05). Among those with COVID-19 history, 61.8% did not receive medical care, 27.6% received medical care but no hospitalization, and 10.5% were hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, 21.4% required ventilator use. CONCLUSION: Incidence of COVID-19 diagnosis and related hospitalization characteristics in persons with complicated mild to severe TBI was similar to national incidence between March 2020-2023. Secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons with TBI require investigation.

Enhancing management of agitation after traumatic brain injury: Psychiatric perspectives and quantitative assessments.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic agitation is a common and problematic complication after traumatic brain injury. It may present with features consistent with psychiatric disorders, which may provide clues as to management. OBJECTIVE: This is a narrative review of pertinent literature and a description of a collaborative clinical approach utilizing psychiatric and brain injury rehabilitation strategies to optimize outcomes in the management of post-traumatic agitation. METHODS: Describe and provide evidence for a transdisciplinary clinical approach supported by existing literature and clinical experience. RESULTS: Given the heterogeneity of the problem and limitations in the current literature there is no standardized approach to manage post-traumatic agitation; nevertheless, a strategy is proposed that clinicians may utilize to guide treatment and assess efficacy of the chosen intervention(s). CONCLUSION: A clinical approach that uses quantitative assessment of targeted behavior to objectively evaluate pharmacological interventions that are generated by a collaborative approach may yield improved outcomes for managing post-traumatic agitation.

Efficacy of Early Inpatient Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Survivors: Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the demographic, clinical characteristics, and effectiveness of early inpatient rehabilitation of post-COVID survivors. DESIGN: A single-center retrospective chart review analysis of 100 patients admitted to a newly created acute COVID rehabilitation unit (CORE+) from April to December 2020 was conducted. RESULTS: The demographic and clinical characteristics and complications of 100 post-COVID patients were reviewed. Functional outcomes of GG Self-care and Mobility Activities Items (Section GG0130 and GG0170) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (Version 3.0) at admission and discharge, prevalence of oxygen requirement, the need for cognitive and neuropsychology support by discharge, and dispositions after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay were analyzed. The functional outcomes of 59 primary pulmonary manifestations of COVID patients were further analyzed based on the presence of intensive care unit stay before transfer to the COVID rehabilitation unit. Most patients demonstrated significant functional gains after completion of inpatient rehabilitation facility stay; however, a considerable number of patients continued to require cognitive support by discharge. CONCLUSION: The data suggested the benefit of early rehabilitation for hospitalized post-COVID patients. Services need to be geared to include patients' cognitive deficits.

Impact of Vaccination in the Rate of COVID-19 Staff Infection in an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility.

ABSTRACT: This brief report summarizes the comparative experience of an inpatient rehabilitation facility dealing with two episodes of COVID-19 infection, one before and one after the availability of vaccination, which was deployed to staff. The experience exemplifies the high rate of infection and potential for asymptomatic presentation of COVID-19 as well as the protective advantage of the vaccine for healthcare workers in this report. With a significant reduction in the rate of infection, from nearly 30% before vaccination to only 2.5% after vaccination. The data presented should serve as an encouragement for vaccination across all populations.

A Comparison of the Armeo to Tabletop-assisted Therapy Exercises as Supplemental Interventions in Acute Stroke Rehabilitation: A Randomized Single Blind Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of an additional therapeutic upper limb exercise (ULE) intervention in early phase post-stroke rehabilitation and to assess outcomes of therapy using the Armeo Spring (ARMEO) versus Therapist-assisted Table Top (TAT) interventions. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind trial. SETTING: Stroke acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five participants early after first stroke, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score >8, Modified Ashworth score (MAS) of <3. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to TAT or ARMEO ULE in addition to the required 3 hours of 1:1 standard of care provided in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Completed number of treatments; withdrawals; serious/adverse events; Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor; FIM efficiency; FMA; MAS; elbow active (A) and passive (P) range of motion (ROM); and therapist effort measured by the Modified Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE). RESULTS: Post-intervention FIM and FMA scores increased but did not demonstrate any statistically significant differences between the intervention groups (P = .585, .962, partial n2 = .001, .001, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in post-intervention MAS elbow flexion and extension (P = .332, .252, partial n2 = .009, .007, respectively) and A/P ROM elbow extension between training groups (P = .841, .731, partial n2 = .001, .003, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in post-intervention A/P ROM elbow flexion between groups (P = .031, .018, partial n2 = .123, .146). Post-intervention RPE did not show any statistically significant differences between the training groups (P = .128, partial n2 = .063). Total elbow range showed larger adjusted mean gains for the ARMEO. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that additional therapeutic ULE in the early phase of post-stroke inpatient rehabilitation is feasible and that both interventions showed positive changes in selected outcomes.

Aging with Traumatic Brain Injury: Deleterious Effects of Injury Chronicity Are Most Pronounced in Later Life.

Understanding the effects of age on longitudinal traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes requires attention to both chronic and evolving TBI effects and age-related changes in health and function. The present study examines the independent and interactive effects of aging and chronicity on functional outcomes after TBI. We leveraged a well-defined cohort of individuals who sustained a moderate/severe TBI and received acute inpatient rehabilitation at specialized centers with high follow up rate as part of their involvement in the TBI Model Systems longitudinal study. We selected individuals at one of two levels of TBI chronicity (either 2 or 10 years post-injury) and used an exact matching procedure to obtain balanced chronicity groups based on age and other characteristics (N = 1993). We found that both older age and greater injury chronicity were related to greater disability, reduced functional independence, and less community participation. There was a significant age by chronicity interaction, indicating that the adverse effects of greater time post-injury were most pronounced among survivors who were age 75 or older. The inflection point at roughly 75 years of age was corroborated by post hoc analyses, dividing the sample by age at 75 years and examining the interaction between age group and chronicity. These findings point to a need for provision of rehabilitation services in the chronic injury period, particularly for those who are over 75 years old. Future work should investigate the underlying mechanisms of this interaction towards the goal of developing interventions and models of care to promote healthy aging with TBI.

Improving transition from inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury: Protocol for the BRITE pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial.

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of long-term disability. Due to challenges that include inconsistent access to follow-up care, persons with TBI being discharged from inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are at risk for rehospitalization, poor reintegration into the community, family stress, and other unfavorable outcomes resulting from unmet needs. In a six-center randomized pragmatic comparative effectiveness study, the BRITE trial (Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Improving the Transition Experience, ClinicalTrials.govNCT03422276), we compare the effectiveness of two existing methods for transition from IRF to community living or long-term nursing care. The Rehabilitation Discharge Plan (RDP) includes patient/family education and referrals for continued care. The Rehabilitation Transition Plan (RTP) provides RDP plus individualized, manualized care management via phone or videoconference, for 6 months. Nine hundred patients will be randomized (1:1) to RDP or RTP, with caregivers also invited to participate and contribute caregiver-reported outcomes. Extensive stakeholder input, including active participation of persons with TBI and their families, has informed all aspects of trial design and implementation planning. We hypothesize that RTP will result in better patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes (societal participation, quality of life, caregiver well-being) and more efficient use of healthcare resources at 6-months (primary outcome) and 12-months post-discharge, compared to RDP alone. Planned analyses will explore which participants benefit most from each transition model. With few exclusion criteria and other pragmatic features, the findings of this trial are expected to have a broad impact on improving transitions from inpatient TBI rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03422276.

Predictors of extended rehabilitation length of stay after traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a prediction rule for acutely identifying patients at risk for extended rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by using demographic and injury characteristics. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. PARTICIPANTS: Sample of TBI survivors (N=7284) with injuries occurring between 1999 and 2009. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Extended rehabilitation LOS defined as 67 days or longer. RESULTS: A multivariable model was built containing FIM motor and cognitive scores at admission, preinjury level of education, cause of injury, punctate/petechial hemorrhage, acute-care LOS, and primary payor source. The model had good calibration, excellent discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = .875), and validated well. Based on this model, a formula for determining the probability of extended rehabilitation LOS and a prediction rule that classifies patients with predicted probabilities greater than 4.9% as at risk for extended rehabilitation LOS were developed. CONCLUSIONS: The current predictor model for TBI survivors who require extended inpatient rehabilitation may allow for enhanced rehabilitation team planning, improved patient and family education, and better use of health care resources. Cross-validation of this model with other TBI populations is recommended.

Meaningful Assessment in Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries.

There are several key components to the meaningful and comprehensive assessment of patients with acquired brain injuries with respect to management of the upper motor neuron syndrome. Type of brain injury, trajectory of recovery, relevant concomitant complications, development of appropriate goals, and an understanding of resources available for patients are all factors to assess when developing a treatment plan. Using appropriate outcome measures will help monitor the efficacy of interventions and guide ongoing management of spasticity.