Variables predictoras de la duración de la amnesia postraumática tras un traumatismo craneoencefálico / Predictors of the duration of post-traumatic amnesia following traumatic brain injury

Introducción: La duración de la amnesia postraumática (APT) ayuda a estimar el nivel de recuperación tras un traumatismo craneoencefálico (TCE). Sin embargo, apenas se dispone de información sobre qué variables sociodemográficas y clínicas influyen en su duración. Este estudio pretende identificarlas y crear un modelo predictivo que permita estimar el tiempo que un paciente tarda en emerger de la APT. Pacientes y métodos: La muestra estaba formada por 40 pacientes adultos en APT ingresados en un centro neurorrehabilitador. El 89,7% había sufrido un TCE grave; el 10,3% restante, un TCE moderado. Su estado cognitivo se valoró mediante el Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT) –escala que permite determinar en qué momento se puede considerar que un paciente emerge de la APT–. Resultados: Se encontró una ecuación de regresión (F = 8,511; p < 0,001; R2 = 0,415), en la que las siguientes variables (clasificadas por su orden de importancia) explicaron el 41,5% de la variabilidad observada en la duración de la APT: a) GOAT administrado a la llegada al centro neurorrehabilitador; b) años de formación reglada del paciente; y c) días que estuvo en APT antes de ingresar en el centro neurorrehabilitador. La ecuación de regresión derivada fue la siguiente: 104,284 + (–0,708 × GOAT-inicial) + (–4,124 × años formación reglada) + (0,219 × APT-hospital agudos). Conclusiones: El tiempo que un paciente tarda en emerger de la APT está condicionado por la puntuación que obtiene en el primer GOAT administrado al ingresar en el centro neurorrehabilitador, el nivel de estudios, y los días que permanece en APT entre el momento del TCE y el ingreso en el centro neurorrehabilitador.(AU)

Introduction: The duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) helps estimate the level of recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, little information is available about which sociodemographic and clinical variables influence its duration. This study aims to identify them and create a predictive model that makes it possible to estimate the time it takes for a patient to emerge from PTA. Patients and methods: The sample consisted of 40 adult patients with PTA admitted to a neurorehabilitation centre. A total of 89.7% had suffered a severe TBI, whereas the remaining 10.3% had had a moderate TBI. Cognitive status was assessed using the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT) – a scale for determining at what point a patient can be considered to be emerging from PTA. Results: A regression equation was found (F = 8.511; p < 0.001; R2 = 0.415), in which the following variables (ranked in order of importance) explained 41.5% of the variability observed in the duration of PTA: a) GOAT administered on arrival at the neurorehabilitation centre; b) years of formal education of the patient; and c) days with PTA prior to admission to the neurorehabilitation centre. The equation derived was as follows: 104.284 + (–0.708 × GOAT-initial) + (–4.124 × years formal education) + (0.219 × hospital acute-APT). Conclusions: The time it takes for a patient to emerge from PTA is conditioned by the score obtained in the first GOAT administered on admission to the neurorehabilitation centre, their level of education, and the number of days elapsed with PTA between occurrence of the TBI and admission to the neurorehabilitation centre.(AU)

Descriptive characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes in active duty military personnel and veterans with disorders of consciousness with combat- and noncombat-related brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To report the injury and demographic characteristics, medical course, and rehabilitation outcome for a consecutive series of veterans and active duty military personnel with combat- and noncombat-related brain injury and disorder of consciousness (DOC) at the time of rehabilitation admission. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: From January 2004 to October 2009, persons (N=1654) were admitted to the Polytrauma Rehabilitation System of Care. This study focused on the N=122 persons admitted with a DOC. Participants with a DOC were primarily men (96%), on active duty (82%), ≥12 years of education, and a median age of 25. Brain injury etiologies included mixed blast trauma (24%), penetrating (8%), other trauma (56%), and nontrauma (13%). Median initial Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3, and rehabilitation admission Glasgow Coma Scale score was 8. Individuals were admitted for acute neurorehabilitation approximately 51 days postinjury with a median rehabilitation length of stay of 132 days. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recovery of consciousness and the FIM instrument. RESULTS: Most participants emerged to regain consciousness during neurorehabilitation (64%). Average gains ± SD on the FIM cognitive and motor subscales were 19 ± 25 and 7 ± 8, respectively. Common medical complications included spasticity (70%), dysautonomia (34%), seizure occurrence (30%), and intracranial infection (22%). Differential outcomes were observed across etiologies, particularly for those with blast-related brain injury etiology. CONCLUSIONS: Despite complex comorbidities, optimistic outcomes were observed. Individuals with severe head injury because of blast-related etiologies have different outcomes and comorbidities observed. Health-services research with a focus on prevention of comorbidities is needed to inform optimal models of care, particularly for combat injured soldiers with blast-related injuries.

Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test: validação, aplicabilidade e relação com a Escala de Coma de Glasgow / Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test: validation, aplicability and the relationship with the Glasgow Coma Scale

A amnésia pós-traumática é um distúrbio freqüente em vítimas com trauma crânio encefálico (TCE) sendo sua duração considerada um forte indicador de gravidade do TCE contuso e um seguro preditor de capacidade funcional. A duração e o término da amnésia pós-traumática têm sido, nos últimos anos, avaliados pelo "Gaveston Orientation and Amnesia Test". Esse instrumento, traduzido e validado no atual estudo, foi renomeado, em língua portuguesa, como Teste de Amnésia e Orientação de Galveston (TAOG). Sua aplicação em 73 vítimas de TCE contuso, juntamente com a avaliação do nível de consciência pela Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECGI), permitiu verificar as propriedades de medida do TAOG, analisar sua aplicabilidade e identificar as relações entre os resultados obtidos nos dois instrumentos. A confiabilidade verificada pelo Alfa de Cronbach resultou em 0,76, valor suficiente para atestar consistência interna satisfatória do instrumento. Houve evidências de validade convergente e discriminante do TAOG. Com relação à aplicabilidade desse instrumento, o mesmo pôde ser aplicado nos pacientes com ECGI '> ou =' 12, porém o término da amnésia pós-traumática foi verificado nos pacientes com ECGI '> ou =' 14. Quanto às relações entre os resultados obtidos no TAOG e na ECGI, correlação significativa ('r IND. s'=0,65) foi verificada entre essas medidas, no entanto, em 47,2% dos casos o fim da amnésia foi indicada antes ou após pontuação 15 na ECGI. As diferentes formas de relação entre término de amnésia e alteração da consciência observadas oferecem indícios de questões adicionais sobre os déficits cognitivos que ocorrerem após TCE.

Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is a very frequent disturbance in victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI), that its length has been regarded a strong index of severity of closed TBI and a safe predictor of outcome. The length and the end of PTA have been evaluated in the last years by the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT). This scale was translated, validated in the present study, renamed in portuguese as "Teste de Amnésia e Orientação de Galveston" (TAOG). It was applied to 73 patients whith closed TBI, as well as measuring their level of conscienceness, tested by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which allowed to check the GOAT´s efficiency as a test, its aplicability and to identify the relationship between both tests. The confiabiality was checked by the Cronbach's Alfa, that resulted in 0,75, enough value to garantee sactisfatory internal consistency of the Test. TAOG showed either convergent and discriminant validity. In relation with its aplicability, GOAT could be used in patients with GCS '> or =' 12, but the end of PTA was observed in patients with GCS '> ou =' 14. The relations between the scores presented in GOAT and GCS, a significant correlation ('r IND. s' = 0,65) was verified between these tests, however, in 47,2% the end of the amnesia was showed before or after GCS = 15. The different relationship between the end of amnesia and observed conscience's alteration, offers signs of aditional questions about cognitive deficits that happens after TBI.