Functional survival after acute care for severe head injury at a designated trauma center in Hong Kong

Long-term outcome after severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Expectation of long-term outcome is an important factor in treatment decision-making after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Conclusive long-term outcome data substantiating these decisions is nowadays lacking. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the scientific literature on long-term outcome after sTBI.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using PubMed from 2008 to 2020. Studies were included when reporting long-term outcome ≥ 2 years after sTBI (GCS 3-8 or AIS head score ≥ 4), using standardized outcome measures. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the QUIPS tool.

RESULTS

Twenty observational studies were included. Studies showed substantial variation in study objectives and study methodology. GOS-E (n = 12) and GOS (n = 8) were the most frequently used outcome measures. Mortality was reported in 46% of patients (range 18-75%). Unfavourable outcome rates ranged from 29 to 100% and full recovery was seen in 21-27% of patients. Most surviving patients reported SF-36 scores lower than the general population.

CONCLUSION

Literature on long-term outcome after sTBI was limited and heterogeneous. Mortality and unfavourable outcome rates were high and persisting sequelae on multiple domains common. Nonetheless, a considerable proportion of survivors achieved favourable outcome. Future studies should incorporate standardized multidimensional and temporal long-term outcome measures to strengthen the evidence-base for acute and subacute decision-making.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Expectation of long-term outcome is an important factor in treatment decision-making for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). 2. Favourable outcome and full recovery after sTBI are possible, but mortality and unfavourable outcome rates are high. 3. sTBI survivors are likely to suffer from a wide range of long-term consequences, underscoring the need for long-term and multi-modality outcome assessment in future studies. 4. The quality of the scientific literature on long-term outcome after sTBI can and should be improved to advance treatment decision-making.

Surgical outcomes in traumatic brain injuries with bilateral mass occupying lesions. Analysis of prognostic factors

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic brain injury is a silent epidemic with major impacts on national productivity as it affects the economically productive age group. Bilateral injuries are usually severe with no clearly defined predictors of outcome as per current available literature.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 102 consecutive cases of post traumatic intracranial mass lesions operated bilaterally, either simultaneously or sequentially, between January 2011 and April 2019. The primary and secondary end points of the study were to assess mortality and GCS at discharge respectively.

RESULTS

The cohort included 102 patients. 91(89.2 %) were males, mean age was 40(±13.6) years. Median GCS at presentation was 9 with 47(46.07 %) having moderate head injury. EDH with contusion was seen in 38(37.3 %), SDH with contusion in 24(23.5 %) and 4 patients (3.9 %) had EDH, SDH and contusion. On univariate analysis, female gender(p = 0.001), poor GCS at presentation(p < 0.001), higher Rotterdam grade on initial CT scan(p < 0.001), need for blood transfusions(p = 0.026) and intraoperative hypotension(p = 0.007) were associated with significantly higher mortality. On multivariate analysis female gender(p = 0.034), poor GCS(p = 0.026) and worse Rotterdam score(p = 0.038) were associated with mortality. Among the subgroup of survivors, GCS at presentation(p < 0.001), Rotterdam grading(p = 0.003), time to surgery after trauma(p = 0.032), duration of hospital stay(<0.001), intraoperative brain bulge(p=.003) and craniotomy instead of craniectomy(p = 0.001) were associated with clinical outcome at discharge.

CONCLUSION

Traumatic brain injuries with bilateral mass lesions requiring surgery have been rarely reported. In this study we have elucidated management strategies and have further studied the factors influencing mortality and clinical outcome. Careful considerations are required in decision making in such cases. Larger multicentric studies would throw more light on outcomes of this rare variety of traumatic brain injury.

Functional Outcomes in Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors

Introduction:

We aimed to analyze the functional outcomes based on the admission characteristics in individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) over a 5-year period.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the cognitive, physical, and functional outcomes based on traditional and novel metrics used in potential outcome prediction.

Results:

A total of 201 participants were enrolled with a mean age of 31.9 ± 11.9 years. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at emergency department did not correlate with the functional independence measure (FIM) score or Ranchos Los Amigos (RLA) scores at discharge. The absolute functional gain was significantly higher in individuals who sustained TBI with RLA 4–5 (34.7 ± 18.8 vs. 26.5 ± 15.9, P = 0.006). Participants with RLA 4–5 on admission to rehabilitation showed good correlation with the absolute FIM gain. On multivariate regression analysis, only age (odds ratio 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.93–0.98; P = 0.005) was found to be the independent predictor of good functional outcome.

Conclusions:

Initial GCS is not a predictor of functional outcome in individuals who sustained TBI. Consideration of age and development of novel functional measures might be promising to predict the outcomes in individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI.

A prospective outcome study observing patients with severe traumatic brain injury over 10-15 years

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) can be divided into primary and secondary injuries. Intensive care protocols focus on preventing secondary injuries. This prospective cohort study was initiated to investigate outcome, including mortality, in patients treated according to the Lund Concept after a sTBI covering 10-15 years post-trauma.

METHODS

Patients were included during 2000-2004 when admitted to the neurointensive care unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Inclusion criteria were: Glasgow coma scale score of ≤8, need for artificial ventilation and intracranial monitoring. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to evaluate outcome both at 1-year and 10-15 years post-trauma.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients, (27 female and 68 male), were initially included. Both improvement and deterioration were noted between 1- and 10-15 years post-injury. Mortality rate (34/95) was higher in the studied population vs. a matched Swedish population, (Standard mortality rate (SMR) 9.5; P < 0.0001). When dividing the cohort into Good (GOS 4-5) and Poor (GOS 2-3) outcome at 1-year, only patients with Poor outcome had a higher mortality rate than the matched population (SMR 7.3; P < 0.0001). Further, good outcome (high GOS) at 1-year was associated with high GOS 10-15 years post-trauma (P < 0.0001). Finally, a majority of patients demonstrated symptoms of mental fatigue.

CONCLUSION

This indicates that patients with severe traumatic brain injury with Good outcome at 1-year have similar survival probability as a matched Swedish population and that high Glasgow outcome scale at 1-year is related to good long-term outcome. Our results further emphasise the advantage of the Lund concept.

Diffuse Axonal Injury: Epidemiology, Outcome and Associated Risk Factors

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a type of traumatic injury, is known for its severe consequences. However, there are few studies describing the outcomes of DAI and the risk factors associated with it. This study aimed to describe the outcome for patients with a primary diagnosis of DAI 6 months after trauma and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with mortality and dependence at this time point. Seventy-eight patients with DAI were recruited from July 2013 to February 2014 in a prospective cohort study. Patient outcome was analyzed using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) within 6 months of the traumatic injury. The mean Injury Severity Score was 35.0 (SD = 11.9), and the mean New Injury Severity Score (NISS) was 46.2 (SD = 15.9). Mild DAI was observed in 44.9% of the patients and severe DAI in 35.9%. Six months after trauma, 30.8% of the patients had died, and 45.1% had shown full recovery according to the GOS-E. In the logistic regression model, the severity variables - DAI with hypoxia, as measured by peripheral oxygen saturation, and hypotension with NISS value - had a statistically significant association with patient mortality; on the other hand, severity of DAI and length of hospital stay were the only significant predictors for dependence. Therefore, severity of DAI emerged as a risk factor for both mortality and dependence.