Computerized tomography head scans as predictors of rehabilitation outcome.

This study explored the relationship between rehabilitation functional outcome, demographic characteristics, and predicted goal achievement for 30 patients with closed head injury according to characteristics of their computerized tomography (CT) head scans performed within 10 days of injury. Goals and outcome were measured according to levels of independent/dependent function at discharge from an interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program by means of the Patient Evaluation Conference System (PECS). Patients were classified into the three following major subgroups according to CT findings: (1) normal; (2) 1 hemisphere lesion; and (3) bilateral lesion. Marked differences in patient outcome and in the team's ability to accurately predict outcome were found to match the subgroups so classified. The need to incorporate CT scan data into early team planning and goal setting is stressed.