Long-term maintenance of gains obtained in postacute rehabilitation by persons with traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate maintenance of gains after discharge from a postacute rehabilitation program.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study, with inclusion based on availability of subjects at three time points.


METHODS
Comprehensive postacute rehabilitation program in the Southern United States.


METHODS
Thirty-four persons with medically documented complicated mild to severe traumatic brain injury; primarily male Caucasians with some college.


METHODS
Disability Rating Scale and the Community Integration Questionnaire completed at admission, discharge, and two follow-up time points.


RESULTS
Repeated measures analyses, using time from injury to discharge as a covariate, revealed significant improvements on all measures from admission to discharge, with no significant change from discharge to either of the follow-up periods. However, substantial changes were noted in individual cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that gains made by persons with traumatic brain injury during postacute rehabilitation are generally maintained at long-term follow-up, but changes occur in individual cases. Long-term services may help prevent decline in individual cases.
Sander
A M
AM
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, TIRR Brain Injury Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. sandea@tirr.tmc.edu
Roebuck
T M
TM
Struchen
M A
MA
Sherer
M
M
High
W M
WM
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000639:trends; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors