title: Functional level during the first 2 years after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term outcomes after TBI are examined to a large extent, but longitudinal studies with more than 1-year follow-up time after injury have been fewer in number. The course of recovery may vary due to a number of factors and it is still somewhat unclear which factors are contributing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the functional level at four time points up to 24 months after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to evaluate the predictive impact of pre-injury and injury-related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients with moderate (n = 21) or severe (n = 44) TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients with TBI were examined with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) at 3 months, 12 months and 24 months after injury. Possible predictors were analysed in a regression model using FIM total score at 24 months as the outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FIM scores improved significantly from rehabilitation unit discharge to 24 months after injury, with peak levels at 3 and 24 months after injury (p < 0.001), for the whole TBI group and the group with severe TBI. The moderate TBI group did not show significant FIM score improvement during this time period. GOSE scores for the whole group and the moderate group improved significantly over time, but the severe group did not. FIM at admission to the rehabilitation unit and GCS score at admission to the rehabilitation unit were closest to being significant predictors of FIM total scores 24 months after injury (B = 0.265 and 2.883, R(2 )= 0.39, p = 0.073, p = 0.081).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIM levels improved during the period from rehabilitation unit discharge to 3 months follow-up; thereafter, there was a 'plateauing' of recovery. In contrast, GOSE 'plateauing' of recovery was at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results may indicate that two of the most used outcome measures in TBI research are more relevant for assessment of the functional recovery in a sub-acute phase than in later stages of TBI recovery.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physiotherapy, Oslo and Akershus University College , Oslo , Norway .|b Head Office and Department of Acquired Brain Injury , Statped , Oslo , Norway .
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandhaug
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Oslo University Hospital , Ulleval , Norway .|d Institute of Health and Society, Research Centre for Habilitation and Rehabilitation Models and Services (CHARM) , Oslo University , Oslo , Norway .
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andelic
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physiotherapy, Oslo and Akershus University College , Oslo , Norway .|e Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital , Nesoddtangen , Norway .
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langhammer
authors.affiliation: f Department of Habilitation , Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway .|g Department of Neurology , Sørlandet Hospital , Kristiansand , Norway , and.|h Department of Clinical Medicine , Bergen University , Bergen , Norway.
authors.forename: Aase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mygland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012046:Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Level of function; rehabilitation; traumatic brain injury