Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.

Improved survival from severe traumatic brain injury has prompted the development of dedicated rehabilitation programs. Ideally, rehabilitation should begin during acute care in order to prevent later complications. Medically stable patients should be referred from acute care to acute rehabilitation programs for evaluation and then treatment or transfer as appropriate. Dedicated brain injury rehabilitation programs follow a method in which treatment is adapted to the major physical and cognitive impairments at each stage of recovery. Specialized treatment protocols have been developed for unconscious or agitated patients, partly on the basis of advances in neuropharmacology. Because of the long recovery course after severe brain injury, many patients are appropriate for postacute rehabilitation programs directed at community reentry, including return to work. Newer program models for patients with traumatic brain injuries, especially programs using cognitive rehabilitation techniques, are controversial because of inadequate research support and uncertain cost-effectiveness.