title: Long-term outcome in severe traumatic brain injury is significantly influenced by brainstem involvement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the 1-year-outcome of 32 survivors of severe traumatic brain injury with respect to the impact of brainstem injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study performed in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two 1-year-survivors (15 with brainstem injury present) of severe traumatic brain injury were investigated for neurological function, activities of daily living, need for care and professional ability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual impairment, spasticity, co-ordination deficits and organic psychosis were more frequent in the group harbouring brainstem lesions. Professional ability was worse among these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brainstem involvement in survivors of severe traumatic brain injury conveys a negative impact on long-term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Germany. drchrwedekind@web.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wedekind
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lippert-Grüner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000293:injuries*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012189:Retrospective Studies