Functional status following traumatic brain injuries: population-based rural-urban differences.

Many studies have described functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI), but few have attempted to contrast differences in functional status and receipt of services of persons residing in rural and urban counties. Persons hospitalized with TBI completed a self-administered survey 1-1.5 years after their injury. Survivors of TBI in rural areas were more likely to be functionally dependent and reported a lower health status than their urban counterparts. Additionally, those who did not receive any TBI-related services but perceived an additional service need were more likely to be functionally dependent than those who received services and did not perceive any additional need. Perceived service needs of those functionally dependent are described. Further investigations into this rural-urban difference are warranted to maximize functional status following TBI for all individuals.