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Early and late outcome in head injury patients with radiological evidence of brain damage
Author(s) -
Eide P. K.,
Tysnes O.B.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1992.tb05065.x
Subject(s) - concussion , medicine , brain contusion , head injury , glasgow outcome scale , brain damage , traumatic brain injury , radiological weapon , cerebral contusion , anesthesia , poison control , glasgow coma scale , surgery , injury prevention , psychiatry , environmental health
This study examined the early and late outcome in head injury patients with focal or multifocal (unilateral or bilateral) brain contusions revealed by computerized tomography (CT) scanning. The outcome was also evaluated in patients hospitalized due to brain concussion. Three months after the injury (the early outcome) 43% of the 86 cases with multifocal contusions on the CT scan were dead. As evaluated by the Glasgow Outcome Scale, all the 57 patients with a focal brain contusion, as well as the 117 cases with brain concussion, made a good recovery or were moderately disabled. The late outcome (1 to 5 years after injury) was evaluated in 78 cases with brain contusion and in 85 cases with brain concussion, and revealed that complaints and impaired adaptive functioning were frequent in both the contusion and concussion group. The occurrence of headache, dizziness and sleep problems did not significantly differ among the various head injury groups. However, focal or multifocal brain contusions on the CT scan increased the frequency of impaired memory, impaired concentration, speech problems, weakness in arms or legs and seizures with loss of consciousness. Cognitive deficits and speech problems were particularly common in patients with a focal contusion in the temporal lobe. The late adaptive and social functioning were most markedly impaired in cases with multifocal bilateral contusions.