Longitudinal outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the long-term global clinical outcomes of TBI patients from 1 week to 10 years post-injury.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted at a level I trauma centre.


METHODS
A total of 327 TBI patients were recruited retrospectively in this longitudinal study and the score of Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) was then documented as an indicator of the clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
The results presented that less than one-in-three patients recovered well within 2 weeks after trauma. Around 40% of patients were evaluated as favourable outcomes within 6 months post-injury. Less than 30% of TBI patients could gain favourable outcomes at 3 years post-injury and over half of patients still could not recover well at 6 years. Five patients' outcomes were continuously followed until 10 years and the results indicated that they started to have good outcomes after 3 years post-injury.


CONCLUSIONS
This study might be the first one to longitudinally evaluate the outcomes of patients from 1 week to 10 years post-injury and revealed that patients still may have difficulties in social interactions and family relationships until 6 years post-injury, even though they could live and work independently. Hence, professionals should pay attention to the underlying factors causing their difficulties within the long-term recovery process.
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Sheng-Jean
SJ
Huang
Hsueh-Lin
HL
Ho
Chi-Cheng
CC
Yang
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome