Spinal cord injury and concomitant traumatic brain injury. Results of a longitudinal investigation.
One-hundred fifty persons with traumatic onset spinal cord injury (SCI) were administered a comprehensive neuropsychologic test battery an average of 7 weeks after SCI, and 67 were retested using the same battery an average of 38 weeks after initial testing. It was hypothesized that if traumatic brain injury were a significant sequela of SCI, retesting would reveal evidence of cognitive recovery over time and would further enable a clearer separation of preinjury cognitive capacity from the effects of injury. Significant improvement in test performance occurred across time to the degree and in a pattern similar to that noted in persons who have sustained mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Hypothesized relationships between level and extent of SCI, etiology of injury and presence/absence of loss of consciousness and neuropsychologic test scores were not observed. Implications for the rehabilitation process are discussed.
Richards
J S
JS
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Brown
L
L
Hagglund
K
K
Bua
G
G
Reeder
K
K
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation