Medical complications, physical function and communication skills in patients with traumatic brain injury: a single centre 5-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to review the medical complications of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were followed in 2000-2006. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The demographic data, functional and cognitive status of 116 persons with TBI were noted. The presence of communication problems, swallowing disturbances, urinary and faecal incontinence, pressure ulcer, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), post-traumatic seizure (PTS) and heterotopic ossification (HO) were recorded at first admission and follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME AND
RESULTS: This study detected aphasia in 19.0%, dysarthria in 30.2%, dysphagia in 17.2%, pressure ulcers in 6.9% and DVT in 2.6% the our patients with TBI. Urinary and faecal incontinence on admission were 32.7% and 26.7%, respectively. Patients with incontinence had poorer cognitive function than those with normal continence. HO rate was 18.1% and the ambulation levels of patients with HO were worse than those without HO. PTS was seen in 13.8% of the patients on admission and this ratio increased to 21.6% during the follow-up. In these patients, the aetiological risk factors for PTS were gunshot and fall injuries.
CONCLUSIONS: Considering the wide spectrum of complications, this study advocates that these persons with TBI should be followed promptly by a multidisciplinary team.