Faculty Bibliography

This self-directed learning module reviews the current epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI), its pathophysiology, prognostication after injury, currently available innovative early approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and effective methods of prevention. It is intended to provide the rehabilitation clinician with current knowledge to accurately inform patients, families, significant others, referring physicians, and payers and to aid in clinical decision making while caring for patients after TBI. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To describe current knowledge in traumatic brain injury epidemiology, pathophysiology, prognostication, acute treatment, and prevention

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationships between post-TBI fatigue (PTBIF) and comorbid conditions, participation in activities, quality of life, and demographic and injury variables. PARTICIPANTS: 223 community-dwelling individuals with mild to severe TBI and 85 noninjured controls. MEASURES: Global Fatigue Index (GFI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), Participation Objective Participation Subjective (POPS), SF-36, Life-3. METHOD: Data were collected through interviews and administration of self-report measures as part of a study of PTBIF. RESULTS: Fatigue was more severe and prevalent in individuals with TBI, and more severe among women. It was not correlated with other demographic and injury variables. Once overlap in measurement instruments' content was removed, depression, pain, and sleep problems accounted for approximately 23% of the variance in fatigue in those with TBI compared to 58% of the variance in the control group. PTBIF was correlated with health-related quality of life and overall quality of life, but was not generally related to participation in major life activities. CONCLUSIONS: PTBIF has significant impact on well-being and quality of life and cannot be accounted for by comorbid conditions alone, suggesting that it is related to brain injury itself. It appears to be unrelated to demographic and injury variables other than gender. PTBIF does not limit the quantity and frequency of participation. Future research should focus on the relationship between fatigue and the quality of participation

OBJECTIVES: To quantify posttraumatic brain injury (post-TBI) mental fatigue objectively by documenting changes in performance on neuropsychological tests as a result of sustained mental effort and to examine the relationship between objectively measured mental fatigue and self-reported situational and day-to-day fatigue. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 202 community-dwelling individuals with mild-severe TBI and 73 noninjured controls. MEASURES: Measures included Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, Global Fatigue Index, and situational fatigue rating. METHOD: Subjects were administered a 30-minute computerized neuropsychological test battery 3 times. The second and third administrations of the battery were separated by approximately 2 hours of interviews and administration of self-report measures. RESULTS: The neuropsychological test scores were factor analyzed, yielding 3 subscales: speed, accuracy, and executive function. Situational fatigue and day-to-day fatigue were significantly higher in individual with TBI group than in individuals without TBI and were associated with speed subscale scores. Individuals with TBI evidenced a significant decline in performance on the accuracy subscale score. These declines in performance related to sustained mental effort were not associated with subjective fatigue in the TBI group. While practice effects on the speed and accuracy scores were observed in non-brain-injured individuals, they were not evidenced in individuals with TBI. CONCLUSIONS: Findings were largely consistent with previous literature and indicated that while subjective fatigue is associated with poor performance in individuals with TBI, it is not associated with objective decline in performance of mental tasks

BACKGROUND: A randomized clinical has shown the effectiveness of intramuscular electrical stimulation for the treatment of poststroke shoulder pain. OBJECTIVE: Identify predictors of treatment success and assess the impact of the strongest predictor on outcomes. METHOD: This is a secondary analysis of a multisite randomized clinical trial of intramuscular electrical stimulation for poststroke shoulder pain. The study included 61 chronic stroke survivors with shoulder pain randomized to a 6-week course of intramuscular electrical stimulation (n = 32) versus a hemisling (n = 29). The primary outcome measure was Brief Pain Inventory Question 12. Treatment success was defined as > or = 2-point reduction in this measure at end of treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. Forward stepwise regression was used to identify factors predictive of treatment success among participants assigned to the electrical stimulation group. The factor most predictive of treatment success was used as an explanatory variable, and the clinical trials data were reanalyzed. RESULTS: Time from stroke onset was most predictive of treatment success. Subjects were divided according to the median value of stroke onset: early (<77 weeks) versus late (> 77 weeks). Electrical stimulation was effective in reducing poststroke shoulder pain for the early group (94% vs 7%, P < .001) but not for the late group (31% vs 33%). Repeated-measure analysis of variance revealed significant treatment (P < .001), time from stroke onset (P = .032), and treatment by time from stroke onset interaction (P < .001) effects. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors who are treated early after stroke onset may experience greater benefit from intramuscular electrical stimulation for poststroke shoulder pain. However, the relative importance of time from stroke onset versus duration of pain is not known

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between poststroke shoulder pain, upper-limb motor impairment, activity limitation, and pain-related quality of life (QOL). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from a multisite clinical trial. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation clinics of 7 academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Volunteer sample of 61 chronic stroke survivors with poststroke shoulder pain and glenohumeral subluxation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured poststroke shoulder pain with the Brief Pain Inventory question 12 (BPI 12), a self-reported 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) that assesses 'worst pain' in the last 7 days. Motor impairment was measured with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). Activity limitation was measured with the Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT) and the FIM instrument. Pain-related QOL was measured with BPI question 23, a self-reported 11-point NRS that assesses pain interference with general activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, interpersonal relationships, sleep, and enjoyment of life. RESULTS: Stepwise regression analyses indicated that poststroke shoulder pain is associated with the BPI 23, but not with the FMA, FIM, or AMAT scores. CONCLUSIONS: Poststroke shoulder pain is associated with reduced QOL, but not with motor impairment or activity limitation

The purpose of this review is to introduce geriatric practitioners to issues and challenges presented in the elderly after onset of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Issues discussed include the magnitude of TBI in the elderly, mechanisms of onset, issues specific to both acute and rehabilitation care for the elderly with TBI, and specific physical and behavioral manifestations of TBI that may need to be addressed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. General guidelines are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of older individuals who have TBI, with specific clinical scenarios illustrating key points

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effectiveness of intramuscular electrical stimulation in reducing hemiplegic shoulder pain at 12 mos posttreatment. DESIGN: A total of 61 chronic stroke survivors with shoulder pain and subluxation participated in this multiple-center, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Treatment subjects received intramuscular electrical stimulation to the supraspinatus, posterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius for 6 hrs/day for 6 wks. Control subjects were treated with a cuff-type sling for 6 wks. Brief Pain Inventory question 12, an 11-point numeric rating scale was administered in a blinded manner at baseline, end of treatment, and at 3, 6, and 12 mos posttreatment. Treatment success was defined as a minimum 2-point reduction in Brief Pain Inventory question 12 at all posttreatment assessments. Secondary measures included pain-related quality of life (Brief Pain Inventory question 23), subluxation, motor impairment, range of motion, spasticity, and activity limitation. RESULTS: The electrical stimulation group exhibited a significantly higher success rate than controls (63% vs. 21%, P = 0.001). Repeated-measure analysis of variance revealed significant treatment effects on posttreatment Brief Pain Inventory question 12 (F = 21.2, P < 0.001) and Brief Pain Inventory question 23 (F = 8.3, P < 0.001). Treatment effects on other secondary measures were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular electrical stimulation reduces hemiplegic shoulder pain, and the effect is maintained for > or =12 mos posttreatment

Older individuals with TBI differ from younger adults with TBI in several ways, including their incidence rates, etiology of injury, nature of complications, lengths of hospitalization, functional outcomes, and mortality. Despite the greater likelihood of poorer functional outcomes, older adults with TBI often achieve good functional outcomes and can live in community settings after receiving appropriate rehabilitation services, although at higher costs and longer hospitalizations than younger individuals. The future of rehabilitation care for elderly patients after TBI is uncertain due to financial limitations associated with the implementation of the PPS payment system by CMS. Little is known regarding the long-term impact of TBI on individuals as they age, but this is an important issue as the population ages