Rehabilitation outcomes of persons with severe traumatic brain injury: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: The recent literature regarding functional outcomes and the effectiveness of rehabilitation for persons with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) suggests that these patients are capable of significant functional recovery over a period of months to years after injury. However, the researches concerning this are very limited. Therefore, this study has been conducted to study the rehabilitation outcomes in persons with severe TBI. Objective: To study the rehabilitation outcomes of persons with severe TBI who have completed 8–16 weeks of residential, postacute rehabilitation. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey study design was chosen. Methods: This study was done in Rehabilitation center of Christian Medical College, Vellore. Forty-two patients with severe TBI who completed rehabilitation from January 2014 to November 2016 were selected for this study. Usual care was provided to the participants in a transdisciplinary service delivery model. The Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM), Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Disability Rating Scale, and Community reintegration Questionnaire (CIQ) were used based on the International Classification of Functioning framework to assess the functional gains achieved during and after the rehabilitation process that include admission, discharge, and follow-up. Results: Significant improvements in CRS-R (confidence interval [CI]: −2.879 to − 0.741; P = 0.000), WHIM (CI: −10.42 to − 2.96; P = 0.000), ACE-III (CI: −8.23 to − 26.15; P = 0.000), and MBI (CI: −15.32 to − 39.18; P = 0.000) were found from admission to discharge. A significant change in disability was observed at discharge (CI: 3.79–6.07; P = 0.000) and at follow-up (CI: 0.87–1.75; P = 0.000). Marital status was influencing the CRS-R (CI: −0.82–6.79; P = 0.011) and the WHIM scores (CI: −0.619–14.12; P = 0.047). The mean follow-up CIQ score was 9.77 (standard deviation = 7.01). Only socioeconomic status was influencing CIQ (CI: 2.90–12.98; P = 0.003). Conclusion: Participants showed significant functional gains after the residential, post-acute rehabilitation program. These functional gains were not reflected in their community reintegration.