Citation

Crossley M, Shiel A, Wilson B, Coleman MR, Gelling L, Fryer T, Boniface S, Pickard J. Brain Inj. 2005; 19(9): 729-737.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. crossley@sask.usask.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699050400013733

PMID

16195187

Abstract

This case study describes a multi-disciplinary investigation of the emergence from coma of an 80-year old female (KE) following severe traumatic brain injury. The relationship between cognitive/behavioural ability and the integrity of cerebral function was assessed using neuropsychological measures, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, somatosensory evoked potentials and trans-cranial magnetic stimulation. These investigations were performed as KE was beginning to emerge from coma (4 weeks) and, again, approximately 1 year following brain injury, when she was judged to have achieved her maximum level of recovery. Neuropsychological measures revealed improvement during the first year post-injury in KE's speed of information processing, memory and executive abilities. Electrophysiological and metabolic studies indicated a restoration of functional integrity that was consistent with the gradual recovery in higher brain function documented using behavioural procedures. This case study demonstrates the rehabilitation potential of pre-morbidly healthy older adults following severe traumatic brain injury.

Language: en