scholarly journals The Functional Status Examination in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A TRACK-TBI Sub-Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1165-1174
Author(s):  
Evan Zahniser ◽  
Nancy R Temkin ◽  
Joan Machamer ◽  
Jason Barber ◽  
Geoffrey T Manley ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The Functional Status Examination (FSE) is a comprehensive measure of functional status post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) that has primarily been used in studies of moderate-to-severe TBI. The present observational study examines functional status using the FSE among patients who sustained mild TBIs (mTBIs; defined as Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] = 13–15 at admission) seen in a Level 1 trauma center. Study aims included examining the course of functional status following mTBI, as well as exploring relationships of the FSE and other relevant constructs among those with GCS = 13–15. Method Participants were assessed at 2 weeks (n = 112), 3 months (n = 113), 6 months (n = 106), and 12 months (n = 88) post-injury for changes in functional status resulting both (a) from all injuries and (b) from TBI only. Results Among seven domains of day-to-day functioning, participants generally experienced the greatest disruption in their primary activity (work or school) and in leisure and recreation. Subjects’ overall functional status tended to improve over time, with sharpest increases in functionality occurring in the first 3 months post-injury. However, some subjects continued to report functional limitations even at 12 months post-injury. Functional status was largely unrelated to neurocognitive functioning, but related strongly to post-traumatic symptoms, life satisfaction, and emotional well-being, particularly at 3 months post-injury and beyond. Conclusion Findings indicate that functional impairments related to mTBI may be more likely to persist than widely believed, with those who experience lingering functional deficits at particular risk for emotional health difficulties.

Author(s):  
W Ting ◽  
J Topolovec-Vranic ◽  
M McGowan ◽  
MD Cusimano

Background: Pupillometry, the measurement of pupil response dynamics via the pupillary light reflex, is seldom used in the assessment of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We hypothesized that there would be quantifiable differences in detailed pupil response measurements in patients with acute and chronic mTBI. Methods: We conducted 49 bilateral pupillometry measurements, in acute mTBI patients at 1-week (N=11), 2-4w (N=9), and 3-7mo post-injury (N=3); 14 patients with persistent post-traumatic symptoms (PTS) once, and healthy controls across a first visit (N=7) and second visit 2-4w later (N=5). Results: The percentage of left pupil diameter change was significantly greater in the acute mTBI group at second visit (mean=36.3% (2.96)), compared to controls at second visit (mean=31.6% (4.39)) (F=5.87, p=0.0321). We did not identify significant differences between acute mTBI patients and controls at first visit, PTS patients versus controls, and within the acute mTBI group across three longitudinal visits. Conclusion: While these preliminary data suggest that pupillometry under these conditions does not distinguish between patients who had a recent mTBI or those with PTS and healthy controls, further research is warranted investigating pupil behavior and its clinical utility in mTBI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1136-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora M. Hammond ◽  
Joseph T. Giacino ◽  
Risa Nakase Richardson ◽  
Mark Sherer ◽  
Ross D. Zafonte ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Umesh M. Venkatesan ◽  
Amanda R. Rabinowitz ◽  
Stephanie J. Wolfert ◽  
Frank G. Hillary

BACKGROUND: Disrupted memory circuitry may contribute to post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is unclear whether duration of PTA (doPTA) uniquely impacts memory functioning in the chronic post-injury stage. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between doPTA and memory functioning, independent of other cognitive abilities, in chronic moderate-to-severe TBI. METHODS: Participants were 82 individuals (median chronicity = 10.5 years) with available doPTA estimates and neuropsychological data. Composite memory, processing speed (PS), and executive functioning (EF) performance scores, as well as data on subjective memory (SM) beliefs, were extracted. DoPTA-memory associations were evaluated via linear modeling of doPTA with memory performance and clinical memory status (impaired/unimpaired), controlling for PS, EF and demographic covariates. Interrelationships between doPTA, objective memory functioning, and SM were assessed. RESULTS: DoPTA was significantly related to memory performance, even after covariate adjustment. Impairment in memory, but not PS or EF, was associated with a history of longer doPTA. SM was associated with memory performance, but unrelated to doPTA. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a specific association between doPTA—an acute injury phenomenon—and chronic memory deficits after TBI. Prospective studies are needed to understand how underlying mechanisms of PTA shape distinct outcome trajectories, particularly functional abilities related to memory processing.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUREYYA DIKMEN ◽  
JOAN MACHAMER ◽  
JESSE R. FANN ◽  
NANCY R. TEMKIN

AbstractThis study examines rates of reporting of new or worse post-traumatic symptoms for patients with a broad range of injury severity at 1 month and 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI), as compared with those whose injury spared the head, and assesses variables related to symptom reporting at 1 year post-injury. Seven hundred thirty two TBI subjects and 120 general trauma comparison (TC) subjects provided new or worse symptom information at 1 month and/or 1 year post-injury. Symptom reporting at 1 year post-injury was compared in subgroups based on basic demographics, preexisting conditions, and severity of brain injury. The TBI group reported significantly more symptoms at 1 month and 1 year after injury than TCs (each p < .001). Although symptom endorsement declined from 1 month to 1 year, 53% of people with TBI and 24% of TC continued to report 3 or more symptoms at 1 year post-injury. Symptom reporting in the TBI group was significantly related to age, gender, preinjury alcohol abuse, pre-injury psychiatric history, and severity of TBI. Symptom reporting is common following a traumatic injury and continues to be experienced by a substantial number of TBI subjects of all severity levels at 1 year post-injury. (JINS, 2010, 16, 401–411.)


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-441
Author(s):  
Tracey A Brickell ◽  
Louis M French ◽  
Sara M Lippa ◽  
Rael T Lange

This study examined the impact of service member/veteran (SMV) combat deployment and traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the health and behavior of his or her children. Participants were 104 female spouse caregivers of US SMVs who had sustained a mild, severe, or penetrating TBI. Participants completed the Children’s Health and Behavior Questionnaire (CHBQ; r = .758 to .881) that evaluates school grades, behavior, medical health, emotional health, and social participation: (a) prior to the first combat deployment, (b) in the month prior to the TBI, (c) within 2 years after the TBI, and (d) 2 or more years after the TBI. A substantial number of children experienced a decline in health and behavior following the TBI (41.7%–79.1%). Of those who declined (a) 68.8%–75.5% declined within the first 2 years post-injury, followed by improvement or stabilization; (b) 6.7%–15.6% declined only after 2 or more years post-injury; (c) 15.6%–25.0% declined within the first 2 years post-injury and then again 2 or more years post-injury; and (d) 16.9%–26.5% experienced a decline as a result of deployment, followed by an additional decline after the SMV’s TBI. Services are required for children of SMVs following TBI and deployment, particularly children at risk for poor outcome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12211
Author(s):  
Tamara Janković ◽  
Petra Dolenec ◽  
Jelena Rajič Bumber ◽  
Nika Gržeta ◽  
Jasna Kriz ◽  
...  

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disabling disorder and a major cause of death and disability in the world. Both single and repetitive traumas affect the brain acutely but can also lead to chronic neurodegenerative changes. Clinical studies have shown some dissimilarities in transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) expression patterns following single versus repetitive TBI. We explored the acute cortical post-traumatic changes of TDP-43 using the lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) model of single moderate TBI in adult male mice and investigated the association of TDP-43 with post-traumatic neuroinflammation and synaptic plasticity. In the ipsilateral cortices of animals following LFPI, we found changes in the cytoplasmic and nuclear levels of TDP-43 and the decreased expression of postsynaptic protein 95 within the first 3 d post-injury. Subacute pathological changes of TDP-43 in the hippocampi of animals following LFPI and in mice exposed to repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) were studied. Changes in the hippocampal TDP-43 expression patterns at 14 d following different brain trauma procedures showed pathological alterations only after single moderate, but not following rmTBI. Hippocampal LFPI-induced TDP-43 pathology was not accompanied by the microglial reaction, contrary to the findings after rmTBI, suggesting that different types of brain trauma may cause diverse pathophysiological changes in the brain, specifically related to the TDP-43 protein as well as to the microglial reaction. Taken together, our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological events following brain trauma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Marei ◽  
S Manivannan ◽  
O Elalfy ◽  
M Zaben

Abstract Introduction Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health burden. Although neurogenesis occurs post-injury, achieving long term survival of newly generated neurons remains elusive. High Mobility Group Box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a pivotal cytokine in hosting the neuro-inflammatory response to injury, but also mediates neurogenesis during physiological development. In this review, we examine current evidence for post-traumatic neurogenesis and HMGB1 as a therapeutic target. Method PubMed database was evaluated with the following search terms: HMGB1, isoforms, neurogenesis, traumatic brain injury, Toll-like receptor, receptor for advanced glycation end-products. Results Multiple studies support the existence of neurogenesis post-injury both in vitro and in vivo. Different HMGB1 target receptors mediate different functions of HMGB1, though these are not mutually exclusive in the context of injury. Interaction with RAGE is responsible for developmental neurogenesis, whilst TLR-4 mediates the innate immune response. Though different HMGB1 isoforms are recognised, specific effects post-injury remains unexplored. In vivo animal studies demonstrate positive effects of HMGB1 antagonism post-TBI, but long-term outcomes remain unclear. Conclusions Modulating HMGB1 may enhance post-TBI recovery, but a mechanistic understanding of its effects on neurogenesis is fundamental to avoid negating potentially beneficial effects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalton A R Sakthivadivel

AbstractTraumatic brain injury is a devastating injury to the brain that can have permanent or fatal effects, leading to life-long deficits or death. Among these effects is psychosis and schizophrenia, sometimes reported in the population of TBI sufferers. Here we evaluate a possible mechanism of post-traumatic psychosis, shedding light on the anomalous nature of psychosis as over-activity and brain injury as destruction. Using a multiscale model of the brain to relate molecular pathology to connectomic and macroscopic features of the brain, we identify cell lysis and membrane deformation as a possible mechanism for psychosis after injury. We also evaluate the reorganisation of functional networks and cortical activation post-injury, and find the features of a simulated brain under traumatic injury correlate with recorded results on the schizophrenic functional connectome. This provides a possible mechanism for post-traumatic psychosis, as well as a proof-of-principle of advanced multiscale modelling methods in computational psychiatry and neuromedicine. It also elaborates on the relationship between structure and function in the brain, information processing, and the delicate regulation of activity in healthy brains.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-345 ◽  

Cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and sensorimotor disturbances are the principal clinical manifestations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) throughout the early postinjury period. These post-traumatic neuropsychiatric disturbances present substantial challenges to patients, their families, and clinicians providing their rehabilitative care, the optimal approaches to which remain incompletely developed. In this article, a neuropsychiatrically informed, neurobiologically anchored approach to understanding and meeting challenges is described. The foundation for that approach is laid, with a review of clinical case definitions of TBI and clarification of their intended referents. The differential diagnosis of event-related neuropsychiatric disturbances is considered next, after which the clinical and neurobiological heterogeneity within the diagnostic category of TBI are discussed. The clinical manifestations of biomechanical force-induced brain dysfunction are described as a state of post-traumatic encephalopathy (PTE) comprising several phenomenologically distinct stages. PTE is then used as a framework for understanding and clinically evaluating the neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI encountered commonly during the early post-injury rehabilitation period, and for considering the types and timings of neurorehabilitative interventions. Finally, directions for future research that may address productively the challenges to TBI rehabilitation presented by neuropsychiatric disturbances are considered.


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