Citation

Annoni JM, Beer S, Kesselring J. Disabil. Rehabil. 1992; 14(1): 23-26.

Affiliation

Dept of Neurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Centre, Valens, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1534029

Abstract

In 1987 80 patients living in the region of St Gallen, Switzerland, suffered from head injury with neuroradiologically visible intracranial lesions (annual incidence 20/100,000). One-quarter died during the first month after injury, and six others during the following 3 years. All except three of the 45 survivors interviewed and examined after 3 years had symptoms and functional impairment related to injury: neuropsychological (78%), behavioural (58%), neurological (53%), and related to bone or soft tissue trauma (36%). Half of the patients suffered from headache. Although these impairments caused little disability--only 5% of the patients had a Glasgow Outcome Score of 2 or 3--handicap in social life was reported in half of them and only 13 of 29 working before the accident were able to resume their former work. The consequences for long-term management of these patients are discussed.

Language: en