The outcome, working ability and psychic changes after traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
Severe traumatic brain injury belongs to diagnoses with unfavourable outcome. Almost half of patients die due to this diagnose and many survivals remain severely disabled.


METHODS
In our follow-up file we evaluated 52 patients treated at neurosurgical department due to this diagnosis. The survivals were subsequently examined in order to determine the severity of their objective neurological and cognitive problems.


RESULTS
Mortality rate in our group reached 56 %. The overall results show cognitive disorders (memory disorders, prolonged latency and concentration disorders). Out of 92 % of surviving patients, it was neurological impairment that was most frequently (65 %) involved.


CONCLUSIONS
Both cognitive disorders and neurological impairments are responsible for complicated resocialising including working ability which is very low after severe traumatic brain injury--in our group 26 %. Major obstacle can be seen in the psychological component of their over-all impaired quality of life (Tab. 5, Ref. 6).
Navratil
O
O
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic. ondras76@yahoo.co.uk
Smrcka
M
M
Hanak
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function