Spinal cord injury and concomitant traumatic brain injury. Results of a longitudinal investigation

• Published in: American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Vol. 67; no. 5; p. 211
• Main Authors: Richards, J S, Brown, L, Hagglund, K, Bua, G, Reeder, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1988
• Subjects: Brain Injuries - complications; Brain Injuries - psychology; Brain Injuries - rehabilitation; Female; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Processes; Neuropsychological Tests; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal Cord Injuries - psychology; Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0894-9115
• DOI: 10.1097/00002060-198810000-00005

One-hundred fifty persons with traumatic onset spinal cord injury (SCI) were administered a comprehensive neuropsychologic test battery an average of 7 weeks after SCI, and 67 were retested using the same battery an average of 38 weeks after initial testing. It was hypothesized that if traumatic brain injury were a significant sequela of SCI, retesting would reveal evidence of cognitive recovery over time and would further enable a clearer separation of preinjury cognitive capacity from the effects of injury. Significant improvement in test performance occurred across time to the degree and in a pattern similar to that noted in persons who have sustained mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Hypothesized relationships between level and extent of SCI, etiology of injury and presence/absence of loss of consciousness and neuropsychologic test scores were not observed. Implications for the rehabilitation process are discussed.