The Initial Computerized Tomography Findings of the Brain and the Functional Outcome in Traumatic Brain Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation of the initial Computerized Tomography(CT) findings of the brain and the functional outcome, and to suggest the initial CT findings as a functional outcome predictor in the traumatic brain injured(TBI) patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine TBI patients were included in this study. Subjects were divided into groups of non-focal or focal TBI, and with or without a depressed skull fracture according to their initial brain CT findings. RESULTS: The non-focal TBI patients were not significantly different from focal TBI patients in the days from onset to rehabilitation, rehabilitation stay, and initial FIM score. However their outcome in FIM gain and FIM efficiency significantly worse than focal TBI patients. The TBI patients with a depressed skull fracture were not significantly different from the patients without a depressed skull fracture in the days from onset to rehabilitation, rehabilitation stay, and intial FIM score. However their outcomes were significantly worse than patients without a depressed skull fractrue in FIM efficiency. CONCLUSION: The initial brain CT findings were generally useful for the prediction of functional outcomes in TBI patients.