Quantitative imaging in late TBI. Part II: cognition and work after closed and penetrating head injury: a report of the Vietnam head injury study.
BACKGROUND
Functional outcome in relation to CT findings in traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients is not well established in relation to cognitive and vocational outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible correlation between relatively simple quantitative radiological measurements and cognitive and vocational outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of quantitative assessment of CT studies in relation to post-injury cognitive changes and vocational outcome.


METHODS
US Army Medical Centre.


METHODS
74 penetrating head injured (PHI) and 37 closed head injured (CHI) Vietnam war veterans.


METHODS
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT); Disability score; Return to work.


RESULTS
Total brain volume loss, third ventricle width (3VW), ventricular score (VS), and septum-caudate distance (SCD) were significantly related to cognitive change and return to work in PHI patients. Volume loss and 3VW were the most valuable radiologic predictors of outcome in multivariate linear and logistic regression models for both CHI and PHI.


CONCLUSIONS
3VW on late CT scans following traumatic brain injury is a powerful predictor of overall long-term cognitive outcomes and potential for return to work.
Groswasser
Zeev
Z
Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program, the HM Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Sciences, The Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Ra'anana, Israel. zeevgros@ccsg.tau.ac.il
Reider-Groswasser
Irith I
II
Schwab
Karen
K
Ommaya
Alexander K
AK
Pridgen
Anthony
A
Brown
Herbert R
HR
Cole
Reginald
R
Salazar
Andres M
AM
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans