[Automobile driving after a brain injury].
BACKGROUND
Little is known about driving fitness after brain damage.


METHODS
The present study describes 62 brain injured patients, 36 with cerebral vascular accidents, 15 with traumatic brain injuries, and 11 with other neurological diseases, mean age 50 years, who after thorough assessment had been found fit enough for driving a car. 15 months later they were sent a questionnaire about their driving behaviour and skills.


RESULTS
A higher number of traffic incidents were found after brain injury, but the difference was not significant. Patients with traumatic brain injury had a significantly higher number of traffic incidents post-injury than patients with stroke. A majority of those involved in incidents were young males with traumatic brain injury, who had deficits in cognitive executive functions.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with traumatic brain injuries seem to need special attention when assessed for driving. Time to follow-up is too short for the results to be conclusive for the whole material of brain-injured patients. Further studies should be conducted.
Mosberg
A
A
Hjerneslagseksjonen, Sunnaas sykhus 1450 Nesoddtangen. arne.mosberg@sunnaas.no
Østen
P E
PE
Schanke
A K
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires