Functional outcome following severe head injury in decerebrating patients

Abstract

Aim; To examine the outcome in patients with decerebration due to severe head injury.Method: All the patients of severe head injury were admitted to the hospital. Out of these patients, those who were having decerebration were included in the study (n=48). Various factors were analyzed to assess their effect on outcome.Outcome was assessed on basis of Glasgow outcome scale at three months following injury. Results: The patients who were normal or had minimal deficits were categorized as having good outcome while those with moderate or significant disability or death were categorized as having poor outcome. Patents in the pediatric group had lesser mortality as compared to adults (50% versus 81.6%). Age, eye opening, pupillary status, and surgical intervention were the factors having significant impact on outcome (p<.05). Those patients who had operable lesion had better survival than those with diffuse injuries. Over all good outcome was seen in 5 (10.4%) patients. Mortality in our series was 75 %( 36 patients).Conclusion: Patients who have decerebration after severe head injury have high mortality. However, some of these patients have functional recovery, hence they must be managed aggressively and every effort must be made to intervene in them before features of decerebration occur.