F-1-01-03
MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS IN REHABILITATION OF THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURED
MENON E.B. (DEPT. OF REHAB. MEDICINE, TTSH, SINGAPORE)
PURPOSE Our study was to identify the more common medical problems encountered during the rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
METHOD The hospital courses of 96 TBI admitted to our Dept. from Jan. 1995 to Jun. 1996 were studied.
RESULTS Out of our 96 TBI patients, 86 patients satisfied the study criteria, 71 men and 15 women, their mean-age being 28 years old. All our patients had a post-traumatic amnesia duration exceeding 24 hours, 87% of them sustained moderate to severe TBI. Neurological, gastrointestinal, skin, genitourinary and respiratory problems were encountered most frequently with special mention of post-traumatic seizures, decubitus pressure ulcers, urinary and respiratory tract infections.
CONCLUDE Early and astute understanding of these medical problems with immediate management will enhance the physical status of our patients, enabling minimal disruption to our rehabilitation program.
F-1-01-04
CHILDRFN'S RESIDUAL DEFICIT AFTER BRAIN INJURY IN ESTONIA
Riina KALLASTE; Leo TAMM
Esutonia Rehabilitation Association,Tallinn ESTONIA
Frequency of traumas with children is high as well as the consequences after brain injury. The purpose was to find out the frequency and structure of residual deficit.
During ten years 1437 cases of' brain injury were analyzed ill our hospital and also catamnesis of these children in special kindergartens and schools. The questionnaires were used. Significantly high number 84% of children recovered without any residual deficit. 16% of children, who were diagnosed severe brain injury had different consequences. Most of them had impairment (71%): different somatic symptoms and complaints (headache dizziness, sleeping disorder. bed-wetting); school problems, personality-behavioural changes and neurological defects. 23% with disabilities: combined disabilities i.e. disorders of speech, mentality and mobility; isolated motoric disability, isolated mental disability, aphasia and dysphasia. 6% were handicaps.
Most of children don't have any consequences. These results underline the importance of timely and complex rehabilitation in traumatic brain injury of children.
