Citation

Tellier A, Marshall SC, Wilson KG, Smith A, Perugini M, Stiell IG. Brain Inj. 2009; 23(11): 879-887.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada. atellier@ottawahospital.on.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699050903200555

PMID

20100124

Abstract

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To explore the heterogeneity of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Hospital-based prospective follow-up study of 125 patients with mTBI sub-divided into 'severity' sub-groups on the basis of GCS scores (GCS of 15 = mild sub-group; GCS of 13-14 = moderate sub-group). Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) duration (30 minutes used as a cut-off) was also used to define group membership for secondary analyses. The follow-up assessment consisted of a brief neuropsychological battery as well as measures of neurobehavioural functioning, community integration and post-concussive symptomatology. CT scanning was also obtained when clinically relevant. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The two mTBI sub-groups, as defined by GCS scores, did not differ with respect to post-concussive symptomatology, neurobehavioural symptoms, neuropsychological performance or CT scan abnormalities. In contrast, when group membership was redefined on the basis of PTA, the two sub-groups differed significantly with respect to intracranial abnormalities and report of aggressive or disinhibited behaviours at the 6-month mark. CONCLUSIONS: While the notion of heterogeneity in mTBI was not supported when severity was based on GCS scores, there was partial support when PTA duration was used as a measure of severity.

Language: en