[Severely injured patients after the initial phase--vegetative state or remaining cognitive functions?].
BACKGROUND
We wanted to quantify improvements in the subacute rehabilitation phase in patients with severe brain injuries classified as vegetative or minimal brain consciousness.


METHODS
Five patients were studied during a 12 months period using a method called Coma Recovery Scale (CRS) as described by Giacino et al. (1991). The parameters measured included visual and hearing functions, motor functioning, oromotor/verbal function, communication, and arousal. The observations of the patients and commandos given were standardised in a manual, and the responses achieved from the patients were recorded according to a scale for each parameter.


RESULTS
This procedure for measuring closely the progress over time in these severely brain injured patients, was used for planning a realistic rehabilitation program. It was found to be very practical in communication with relatives of the patients and with the other therapists involved.


CONCLUSIONS
By decomposing the cognitive functions by this method using all the available possibilities for inputs, even minimal improvement in the cognitive functions mentioned could be uncovered and recorded.
Berstad
J
J
Sunnaas sykehus 1450 Nesoddtangen.
Undseth
S
S
Kunz
R
R
Schanke
A K
AK
Christensen
S
S
Andersson
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012041:Regional Medical Programs; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices