Research Reports - Outcome in polytraumatized patients with and without brain injury
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2012 Jun 26
Gross T, Schüepp M, Attenberger C, Pargger H, Amsler F
BACKGROUND: To investigate the long-term outcome in polytrauma victims with
traumatic brain injury (TBI) and without traumatic brain injury (NTBI). METHODS:
Cohort study based on prospectively collected data. Evaluation of functional
outcome and quality of life at least 2 years (median 2.5) following trauma in 111
survivors [39.5 ± 20.9 years; injury severity score (ISS) 27.9 ± 8.2; TBI:
n = 45; NTBI: n = 66] out of a total of 211 consecutive multiply-injured patients
with an ISS > 16, all primarily admitted to the intensive care unit. RESULTS:
Significantly fewer TBI patients lived independently compared with NTBI patients
(71% vs. 95%; P < 0.001). TBI patients showed a higher decrease in their capacity
to work compared with NTBI patients (P < 0.002). Both study groups experienced a
significantly reduced long-term outcome in comparison with pre-injury level in
all dimensions of the short form (SF)-36. Following stepwise logistic regression,
the mental sum component of the SF-36 and the Nottingham Health Profile
discriminated independently between TBI and NTBI patients (R (2) = 0.219;
P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: More than 2 years after injury, polytraumatized patients
with and without TBI suffer from a reduction in functional outcome and quality of
life, but TBI patients are doing importantly worse. Any comparison of trauma
patient cohorts should consider these differences between TBI and NTBI patients.
Given their discriminatory potential, the sensitivity of self-reported measures
needs further affirmation with neuropsychological assessments.
